By BONIFACE AKARAH

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and the South-East Zone of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) have launched an investigation into the reported military invasion and burning of civilian homes in Imezi-Owa community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The rights groups disclosed this in a joint statement issued on Thursday, May 14, in Enugu and signed by Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi for Intersociety and Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah for CLO-Southeast.

According to the organisations, a six-man team of field investigators had already been deployed to Ezeagu to conduct what they described as a “detailed and unbiased investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the reported incident, which allegedly began on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

“The Leaders of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and the South-East Zone of the Civil Liberties Organization have commenced detailed and unbiased investigations into the last week’s reported invasion and civilian house burnings targeted at Imezi-Owa Community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State,” the statement said.

The groups said the investigation followed a review of official statements issued by the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu, as well as independent reports, including publications by Sahara Reporters and verified videos and photographs circulating on social media.

“Having carefully studied the official statements of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu, armed state actor chief perpetrator and the independent reports published in the Sahara Reporters as well as the verified videos and photos shared on social media, a six-man team of field investigators from our organizations arrived Ezeagu since Tuesday, May 12, 2026,” the statement added.

Intersociety and CLO-Southeast said their investigators had also been directed to probe possible involvement of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the incident.

“The involvement of the Eastern Security Network in the incident is also under investigation,” the rights groups said.

They added that investigators would identify houses allegedly burnt or razed, establish ownership, determine why they were targeted, and ascertain who carried out the destruction, where and when it occurred.

“Our field investigators are also directed to locate the houses burnt or razed and identities of their owners, why they were razed, who razed them, where and when they were razed,” the statement noted.

The organisations further disclosed that they were investigating the “remote and immediate causes” of the reported military action, including what they described as the “possibility of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen instigation and involvement.”

The findings of the investigation, the groups said, would provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the controversial operation in the Enugu community.