Five soldiers died on Tuesday while others were critically injured after an MRAP (mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicle) had an accident in Anambra State Eastern region of Nigeria.

Local media reports that the soldiers from the 302 Artillery Regiment, General Support, Onitsha were on their way to Ihiala to join their colleagues at a military checkpoint after receiving information that operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) were planning to attack the checkpoint

Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had in December 2020 launched ESN as an armed wing of the separatist group. 

The group has carried out attacks that killed many security personnel and burnt several police Stations across States in the South Eastern region.