IPOB : army, insists on marking Biafra at 51

A press statement on Monday signed by the MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, Felix Anochirimonye for Eastern People’s Congress, Rita Anibuogu for movement of Biafrans in Nigeria and Innocent Amadi for Bile Human Rights Initiative said that the celebration would start on May 29 with a candlelight procession.Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra and other pro-Biafra groups have insisted that despite the heavy presence of security men in the South East, they will mark the 51st anniversary of the Republic of Biafra on May 30.

The groups said that no amount of intimidation by the security agencies would deter its members from going on with the planned anniversary.The statement read, “A coalition of pro-Biafran groups which agreed to speak with one voice in one accord with a unity of purposes met and insisted on the earlier resolutions on 18th of April after our fifth monthly meeting that the annual May 30th celebration of the Biafran people will hold this year in a unique formula.” The groups which include the following organisations :- Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), Eastern Peoples Congress (EPC), Igbo Youth Cultural and Restoration Initiative (IYCRI), Bilie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI), Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN), Biafran National Liberation Council (BNLC), Biafran Revolutionary Organisation (BRO),  Biafran Liberation Crusade (BLC), Joint Revolutionary Council of Biafra (JRCB), Biafra Revolutionary Force (BRF),  Customary Government of Biafra (CGB), Biafran Central Council (BCC) and Biafran United Liberation Council (BULCO) insisted on an anniversary where the members and people of Biafra will interface and reflect soberly on the real issues concerning Biafra emancipation. “This year’s anniversary will be celebrated by the people of Biafra, not as a pro-Biafra group. It is a mark of respect and honour to our fatherland, it is also a reminder to the visions and commandments of our great ancestors that we are not Nigerians but Biafrans. “We enjoin our people to get ready for the celebration of this great anniversary which we will hold to remind ourselves to continue the self-determination movement for Biafra actualization and restoration.”

BIAFRA : Tension mounts in South-East over May 30 ‘Biafra Day’

The group has urged every family, kindred, village, clan and town in the South-East and the other designated areas to remain indoors from 6 pm on Tuesday, May 29, to 6 pm on May 30.There was tension in Enugu and other major cities in the South-East on Monday over the planned celebration of the Biafra Day on Wednesday (tomorrow).

One of our correspondents in Enugu observed that many residents are worried over the possible breakdown of law and order on the day.There are also concerns over possible clashes between pro-Biafran activists and security agents, a situation which residents fear could lead to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of property. Feelers from other states in the zone also indicate a similar disposition among residents. Pro-Biafran groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, called for the sit-at-home protest in order to celebrate the anniversary of the defunct Republic of Biafra on May 30, the date the breakaway state declared independence from Nigeria in 1967. In 2017, the event was marked with a sit-at-home protest ordered by IPOB, which grounded commercial activities in major cities in the zone, as well as Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, and Asaba, in Delta State. IPOB has again ordered a sit-at-home protest to mark this year’s ‘Biafra Day’, but the other major pro-Biafran groups have different plans. MASSOB intends to commemorate the anniversary with lectures and a candlelight procession, while the Biafra Zionists Federation has announced plans to raise the flag of the defunct Republic of Biafra at the Enugu State Government House on that day. In a bid to avert a possible breakdown of law and order, the troops of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army have engaged in a ‘massive show of force’ by parading through major cities in the geopolitical zone in a long convoy of military vehicles. Men of the 553 Base Services Group, Nigeria Airforce, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps are participating in the show of force.The Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa, explained that the parade of the heavily armed troops was “purely a show of force, aimed at sending a clear message to individuals or groups who intend to cause a breakdown of law and order.” Musa added, “Law-abiding members of the public are enjoined not to worry about seeing a long convoy of military and paramilitary vehicles and equipment on selected locations across the South-East zone.” The Enugu State Police Command has also declared its readiness to engage the pro-Biafran agitators. On May 22, 32 members of the Biafra Independence Movement faction of MASSOB, who were marking their own ‘Biafra Day,’ were arrested while they were about to embark on a parade through Enugu metropolis. The activists are currently in prison custody, having been remanded after they were arraigned before a magistrate court. But the pro-Biafran groups have vowed to go ahead with their plans for the Biafra Day. IPOB has vowed that the South-East and the South-South, as well as other states marked out for the exercise, would be locked down on Wednesday, May 30th. The secessionist group said nothing would stop the sit-at-home protest.IPOB has warned the army and the police against interfering with the exercise. “It will be crass insensitivity of the highest order for any police or army officer in the South-East to intrude upon our grief,” IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said in a statement. The Biafra Zionists Federation, on the other hand, has vowed that ‘not even fighter jets’ would stop the plan to raise the Biafran flag at the Enugu State Government House on May 30. The group, led by Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, a lawyer, had attempted to declare the ‘independence’ of Biafra in the past. Onwuka was detained, and charged with treason, after leading some members of the BZF to invade the studios of Enugu State Broadcasting Service in a failed bid to announce the secession of Biafra on June 5, 2014. A policeman was killed during the incident. In July 2017, having been released from detention, he named himself ‘Interim President of Biafra’, and appointed some prominent Nigerians, including an economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and former information ministers, Jerry Gana and Labaran Maku, as members of the Biafran cabinet. Onwuka has urged ‘Biafrans’ to ignore IPOB’s sit-at-home protest. Rather, he urged them to converge on the Enugu Government House to witness the raising of the Biafran flag. The spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, told one of our correspondents on Monday that the police had taken note of Onwuka’s comments, as well as IPOB’s declarations. Amaraizu said the police are ready for the secessionists. “We are ready for them,” he said. But MASSOB and other pro-Biafran group have insisted that despite the influx of security men into the South-East, the groups will mark the 51st anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra on May 30. The groups said that no amount of intimidation by the security agencies would deter their members from going on with the planned anniversary. join my team A statement on Monday signed by MASSOB leader, Madu, Felix Anochirimonye of the Eastern People’s Congress, Rita Anibuogu of the  Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria and Innocent Amadi for Bile Human Rights Initiative, said that the celebration would start on May 29 with a candlelight procession.

BIAFRANS Sit-at-home ON 30 MAY IPOB trade words

Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr. Garba Umar, described the group as misguided elements and urged the people in the state to disregard the order and go about their lawful normal businesses, assuring that the State Police Command is on top of the situation.“The command, with other security agencies, will not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or groups, under any guise, who disrupts public peace.”

But, in a swift reaction, IPOB, through a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said there is no going back on the May 30 sit-at-home order, describing it is as “oblation” that would take place in no fewer than 100 countries of the world. IPOB further said it is a religious obligation to its indigenes killed unjustly over the years, including victims of the 1967-70 civil war. It condemned what it called police meddlesomeness in its affairs. The police, IPOB insisted have no powers, in any law, to interfere in anybody’s “religious affairs,” as it is an inalienable right of every human and vowed to go ahead with the order as earlier planned. “All Biafrans, no matter the states they are located, must honour and remember their heroes and heroines of the 1967 to 1970 Nigeria – Biafra war and others unjustly killed over the years. “Every family, kindred, village, clan, town across the length and breadth of Eastern region, Mid-West and Middle Belt are expected to remain indoors from 6:00p.m. on Tuesday, (tomorrow) to 6:00p.m. on May 30. It is expected that a team of local and international observers will be on ground to monitor compliance and interview people. Meanwhile, the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), yesterday, gave full support to the sit-at-home order by IPOB .ECA, which spoke through its Secretary, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, called Ndigbo wherever they might be, to observer the day with sober reflection, to honour those who laid down their lives for the Igbo nation. “I would like to use this opportunity to plead with our people to remain indoors on May 30. It’s the only way we honour our dead and reminisce on our journey in the country we find ourselves.” On the Igbo summit on restructuring, held last Monday, in Awka, the ECA chief said: “I am grateful to God that the section of the Igbo elite, who, for various reasons were afraid to identify openly with the restructuring gale that has been blowing across the country for over two decades (since the Abacha days), have finally found the courage to stand up and be counted. To God be the glory. “Credit goes to leaders like Prof Ben Nwabueze and the patriots, who sustained the restructuring struggle for decades. We must also remain grateful to the great Ide, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who actually is the father of the six regional structure. “It does not matter that this people woke up to the truth very late, their ceremony at Awka shows they have eventually become converted to the truth. We must thank God for that and pray their conversion is real. “We must  also help them sustain the tempo until Nigeria is returned to the regional formats that saw rapid development in the first republic. Returning Nigeria to the 1963 Constitution remains the only way out of the impasse the country has found itself.” Ugochukwu-Uko restated the group’s stand that the only restructuring accelted to it was the return to 1963 Constitution, which foundation was on true fiscal federalism and regional autonomy. “Finally, we restate that the only kind of restructuring that will save Nigeria is return to the 1963 Constitution built on true fiscal federalism and regional autonomy. join my team“Any attempt by the oppressor to retain the 36 states as federating units and also sustain the unjust 774 local government areas while claiming that devolving some powers and duties to the states equals to re-+ structuring, will be resisted. Only a return to the 1963 constitution will be acceptable.”

Biafra Memorial: Timeline of genocide against Ndigbo/Biafrans in Nigeria may 30

In the resulting riots, the imperial police stood by and watched as Igbos and Biafrans were killed in hundreds. Below is the timeline of the massacres:

The violence and massacre against Igbos by their northern compatriots dates back as far as 1945.

 It is a fact of history and I’m surprised that some people claim ignorance of this. It started when the civil servants most of whom were Igbos obeyed the call for strike by trade union who had the sympathy of NCNC. 

The British whom the action was targeted at instigated the northern populace to move against the striking workers which quickly became a subterfuge to commit genocide against Igbo Biafrans.          

 1945 – Jos massacre

1953 – Kano massacre

1966 – Pogrom; 30, 000 killed (which they named Democracy Day)

1967 – 1970 (Genocide War; 2mil killed)

1980 – Kano Killings

1982 – Maiduguri Massacre

1984 – Yola Killing

1985 – Gombe Killing

1986 – Kaduna & Kafanchan Massacre

1987 – Zaria

1991 – Bauchi, Katsina & Kano Killings

1992 – Zango Kataf Killing

1993 – Funtua killing

1994 – Kano killings

1996 – Beheading of Gideon Akaluka in Kano

2000 – Damboa Massacre

2000 – Kaduna massacre

2001 – Maiduguri

2001 – Jos Riot

2002 – Kaduna

2005 – Abuja (APO Six) Killing

2010 – Jos bombing

2011 – On January 8, 2011, 400 Igbo Christian traders were massacred at Dilimi and Bauchi Road Markets in Jos.

2011 – Over 1000 people killed in the north by Boko Haram in 2011, where 510 out of the numbers killed were Igbos.

2011 – On 22nd day of December 2011, at least six people “Igbo Christians” were slaughtered in Damaturu, Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria.

2011 – On 25th day of December 2011, at least 35 parishioners including over 25 Igbo Christians were massacred by Boko Haram at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla in Suleja, Niger State, North-central Nigeria.

2012 – On Thursday, 5th day of January 2012, at least eight members of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Igbo Christians were shot dead by “Boko-Haram” during their church service in Gombe, Gombe State, Northeast Nigeria.

2012 – On Friday, 6th day of January 2012, at least 20 Igbo Christian traders were massacred by “Boko-Haram” in Mubi, Adamawa State, North-west Nigeria. Eighteen of the slain traders are from Adazi-nnukwu Community in Anaocha LGA, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. They had gathered in a meeting to plan for the funerals of their fellow Igbo Christian traders, who were killed by the violent Islamist Sect the previous day, when armed “Boko-Haram” elements emerged again at the scene of the meeting and opened fire killing fifteen of them.

2012 – June 3, 2012 – 15 church-goers were killed, 8 of them Igbos and several injured in a church bombing in Bauchi state. Boku Haram claimed responsibility through spokesperson Abu Qaqa.

2012 – June 17, 2012 – Suicide bombers struck three churches in Kaduna State. At least 50 people were killed and 31 of them were Igbos

2012 – October, 3 2012 – Around 46 people were massacred in the town of Mubi during a night-time raid and 26 were Igbos.

2012 – March 18, 2013 – Kano Bus bombing; At least 80 killed and 65 injured. 60% of the victims were Igbos.

2013 – July 6, 2013 – Yobe State school shooting: 42 people, mostly students, were killed in a school attack in northeast Nigeria; 24 were Igbos.

2013 – September 29, 2013 – College of Agriculture in Gujba: 40 students killed and 18 of them were Igbos.

2015 – Hundreds of Biafrans massacred by Fulani Muslim dominated Nigerian military at various places in Anambra, Delta and Abia States following protests against the persecution of Supreme Leader of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

2016 – Hundreds of Biafrans massacred at several places in Southeast Nigeria for daring to match in remembrance of the 1966/67 genocide against Biafrans by the Fulani Muslim dominated federal military government.

2017 – Hundreds of Biafrans massacred at mostly Igweocha and other places in former Eastern Nigeria by Fulani Muslim dominated Nigerian military just because they publicly demonstrated the inauguration of President Trump of America.

2017 – Hundreds of Biafrans massacred in Umuahia, Obigbo and other places in former Eastern Nigeria following declaration of Python Dance by Fulani President Buhari.

September 2017, the Biafran leader and Supreme Leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu got missing following a murderous attack of his home on the direct orders Fulani President Buhari, as part his Python Dance in Southeast.

With these, one doesn’t need much convincing to agree that, the only way to combat the serial genocide against Christian Igbos by mostly northern Nigerian Muslims is the peaceful partition of Nigeria

Biafra Day fever grips Southeast in 30 may

Watch Out For Total Lock Down, Says IPOB
tripleclicks “We Will Declare Independence” Agitators says

Already, military fighter jets are flying the entire zone in apparent show of force against any person or group that might want to break down of law and order on that day. Meanwhile 14 pro-Biafra groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), have asked indigenes of ‘Biafra’ to sit at home on May 30, as a sign of honour for fallen Biafran heroes that were killed in the struggle. Apprehension has enveloped the Southeast geopolitical zone over conflicting orders by various pro-Biafra agitators on how May 30, otherwise known as Biafra Day, would be celebrated. However, the Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF) gave a counter order, asking the people to ignore the stay at home order and troop to Enugu Government House for the hoisting of flags and declaration of Biafran Independence. The BZF, which claims the backing of United States of America and Israel, said sit at home would never be used to achieve Biafra, stressing that such observance in the past did not yield any meaningful result.

Leader of BZF, Benjamin Onwuka, told Biafran indigenes, yesterday, to ignore the sit at home, insisting that those behind it were not “sincere about Biafra cause”. Already, conflicting posters by the two opposing groups have saturated major road junctions and streets, asking people to either comply with the sit at home order or attend the Biafra declaration in Enugu. The Guardian learnt that other agitating groups involved in the sit at home are Eastern Peoples’ Congress (EPC), Igbo Youth Cultural and Restoration Initiative (IYCRI), Bilie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI) and Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria and Salvation People of Biafra (SP). Others are World Union of Biafran Scientists (WUBS), Shadow Government of Biafra (SGB), Biafran National Liberation Council (BNLC), Biafra Revolutionary Organisation (BRO), Biafran Liberation Crusade (BLC), Joint Revolutionary Organisation (JRO), Biafra Revolutionary Force (BRF), Customary Government of Biafra (CGB), Biafran Intellectual Clergy Forum (BICF), Biafran Movement for Sovereignty (BIAMOS), Biafran Central Council (BCC) and Biafran United Liberation Council (BULCO). Apparently to avoid confrontations, several schools, especially those owned by private individuals, have declared mid- term break until June 4. In a statement, yesterday, IPOB boasted that it would be total lock down in southeast, south-south regions and selected states and cities in the country on May 30, when indigenous Biafrans would sit at home in compliance with the order to commemorate heroes and heroines killed in the struggle. IPOB Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the group would use civil disobedience to also honour other victims of sectarian violence, Fulani terror herdsmen, Boko Haram and state sponsored extra judicial killings in the country. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has asked pro-Biafra agitators to embrace dialogue, saying the path they were following “would lead to further spilling of Igbo blood for a cause that can be peacefully fought and realised”. In a statement by its President General, Nnia Nwodo, Ohanaeze declared that enough blood of the people of the zone had already been shed in pursuit of Biafra cause, adding that the organisation (Ohanaeze) was not working at cross purposes with the pro-Biafra agitators. The Police have, however, asked residents to go about their lawful duties, assuring that it was prepared to provide for their safety, even as it warned pro-Biafra groups not to take the law into their hands.

IPOB warns police commissioners in Igboland against interference with sit-at-home

IPOB was apparently reacting to a press release by the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr Umar Garba, in which he called on residents of Anambra state to disregard the sit-at-home order, stressing that IPOB was outlawed and has no powers to order the action. The group, in a statement by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, observed that police commissioners in all the states that make up “Biafra” were mostly from the north and had no powers to determine how the Igbo celebrate their departed brothers.The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned police chiefs in Igboland not to interfere with Wednesday’s proposed sit-at-home protest, saying that the authorities have no right to determine how the Igbo choose to honour their fallen hero.He said, “All Fulani police commissioners that litter Biafraland must desist from commenting about this solemn occasion. Some of them have offered comments that we deem insulting to the memory of the dead. “We don’t have a say about how they honour their victims of Boko Haram violence in core North and those killed by their fellow Fulani terrorists. We have chosen sit-at-home as the best way to say thank you to all our brave soldiers for what they did for us between 1967-70. “It will be crass insensitivity of the highest order for any Fulani police or army officer in the East to intrude upon our grief.”The group insisted that the South-east and South-south, including other states marked out for the exercise, would be locked down on Wednesday, May 30th, and that nothing can stop it. They urged every family, kindred, village, clan, town across the length and breadth of Eastern region, Mid-West and Middle Belt to remain indoors from 6pm on Tuesday the 29th to 6pm on the 30th of May. The statement said it was expected that local and international observers would be on ground to monitor compliance and interview people of the region. It read partly, “All over the world in over 100 countries and territories, IPOB family meetings will gather to rally and offer prayers in memory of our heroes that sacrificed their lives that we may live.“We owe our Biafran soldiers that fell in battle an eternal debt of gratitude which our annual sit-at-home is only but a minor but significant contribution this generation can make in acknowledgement and honour of their supreme sacrifice.”

BIAFRA : 8 pro-Biafrans in prison over alleged treason

The accused persons Okorie Chukwuemeka, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, Kanayo Frank and five others are facing two count charges of treasonable felony, intimidation of president of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Rivers State Governor.Eight pro-Biafra agitators have been remanded in prison custody by a Chief Magistrate court in Port-Harcourt following their arraignment by the police.When the matter came up in court, Chief Magistrate, Andrew Jaja ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the matter and referred the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

The matter was later adjourned to June 21 for mention.Lawyer to the accused pro Biafra agitators, Nneka Anaeke told newsmen that her clients had the constitutional right to peacefully fight for their freedom.They are also being accused of allegedly levying war against the state along East-West Road on May 23 this year.