IPOB : He wrote “One of the most wicked and despicable lies that @MBuhari has ever told is that the Nigerian Army was restrained when fighting the Biafrans during the civil war. “This is a lie from the pit of hell and it is insulting and deeply offensive. We must learn from our history and never repeat its mistakes. “Was the Asaba massacre in which thousands of young boys and old men were slaughtered an act of restraint? Or was the killing of 2 million innocent Biafran civilians and the starving to death of 1 million Biafran children an act of restraint? “For God sake where is our humanity? Must we lie even about our history and try to revise it? No wonder they banned the teaching of history in our schools. DON'T MISS: Download DailyPost Android app and earn unlimited free Airtime “Too much to hide! The truth is that if not for the fact that the same group of people have called the shots in our country since 1966 every single commander of the Nig. Army during the civil war, including @MBuhari, would have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Int. Court of Justice at the Hague by now for the atrocities they commited against the Igbo race and the Biafrans during the civil war.I don’t need to be an Igbo to admit that.”

He spoke in Abuja after he was decorated as the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) by the society’s National President, Bolaji Anani at the Presidential Villa. PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday hailed former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon for restraining the Federal forces from going all out against Biafra forces during the civil war.  Buhari said: “Earlier in my profession, during the civil war, I know how much sacrifice members of the Nigerian Red Cross and their international counterparts did both in the real front of operations and at the rear, on both sides. I think it is a lot of sacrifices because anything can happen to you in the operational areas.
“The risks they faced were real and I admire their courage and commitment to helping people who were in distress and were virtually in millions. Those photographs of people from the Biafra enclave spoke a lot. “I remember with nostalgia the performance of the Commander-in-Chief, General Gowon. Every commander was given a copy of the Commander-in-Chief’s instructions that we were not fighting enemies but that we were fighting our brothers. And thus, people were constrained to show a lot of restraint. “The international observer teams were allowed to go as far as possible within and outside the front and I think this was generous and very considerate of Gen. Gowon. He is a highly committed Nigerian.” On the investiture, Buhari said: “I appreciate this honour bestowed on me.” The President thanked the society for its supports in the Northeast and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. He assured the society that the Federal Government would look at its challenges, including assisting the organisation to secure permanent office accommodation in Abuja.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Red Cross Society for its philanthropic support to Nigeria and its people during the civil war, other emergency situations. “I have taken note of your logistics, especially your request for office here. “I assure you that the government will do its best when you decide to build such facilities in terms of securing an area here within the Federal Capital Territory and we hope you will not do the Nigerian ways of doing things. “To use the words of famous Nigerian Minister ‘I hope you will not build an elephantine headquarters’, which is going to be functional because we have seen your activities throughout the country. “I have taken note of your logistics especially your office here since we returned to Abuja from Lagos. I assure you that the government will do its best when you decide to build such facilities in terms of securing an area,” he said. Anani said the society, which was registered as an independent national society in 1961, had over 800,000 trained volunteers based in communities across the 774 local government areas of the federation. He said the society’s interventions included responses to cases of disasters, disease outbreaks, displacements and providing succor and psycho-social support to victims of dehumanisation.

BIAFRA : Nigerian Army was never soft on Biafrans – Fani-Kayode attacks Buhari

Buhari had during a meeting with the Red Cross Society at the presidential villa said that the Nigerian Army was soft on Biafrans during the Civil War. Countering the statement, Fani-Kayode on his Twitter page described Buhari’s statement as a ‘despicable lie’ and offensive. Femi Fani-Kayode, the former minister of aviation has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari over his statement on the Nigeria/Biafra civil war.  He wrote “One of the most wicked and despicable lies that @MBuhari has ever told is that the Nigerian Army was restrained when fighting the Biafrans during the civil war.
“This is a lie from the pit of hell and it is insulting and deeply offensive. We must learn from our history and never repeat its mistakes. “Was the Asaba massacre in which thousands of young boys and old men were slaughtered an act of restraint? Or was the killing of 2 million innocent Biafran civilians and the starving to death of 1 million Biafran children an act of restraint? “For God sake where is our humanity? Must we lie even about our history and try to revise it? No wonder they banned the teaching of history in our schools. “Too much to hide! The truth is that if not for the fact that the same group of people have called the shots in our country since 1966 every single commander of the Nig. Army during the civil war, including @MBuhari, would have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Int. Court of Justice at the Hague by now for the atrocities they commited against the Igbo race and the Biafrans during the civil war.I don’t need to be an Igbo to admit that.”

heavy security presence in all the strategic points in the state capital, while fighter jets were hovering the state. Regardless, members of the Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF) have vowed to g

A trader Mr. John Nwokedi said he will not come out today due for fear of the unknown as he recalled past experience where some hoodlums seized the opportunity to loot and attack people who opened their shops for business.
A commercial driver Mr. Emeka Odim said: “I’m going to obey the sit-at-home order; I’m not going to bring my vehicle out tomorrow (today) because I am a Biafran, and I believe in civil disobedience to tell our leaders in this country that we are not one and they should allow us to go.” Meanwhile, the leadership of IPOB in Ebonyi State, yesterday, dared the Governor David Umahi and vowed to implement today’s sit-at-home order in all parts of the state. Deputy Coordinator of Biafra agitators in the state, Mr Ugochukwu Nweke, made the avowal while reacting to the state government’s directive on the people of the state to ignore the order. At a press briefing, on Monday, Governor Umahi’s Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, warned that shop owners who obey the order would have to forfeit their shops forever, as the government would take over such shops. He said the state government would not tolerate any plot to sabotage its efforts in ensuring the peace and safety of its people. Similarly, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has warned that any civil servant in the state who obeys the sit-at-home order by failing to be on his or her duty post today will be sanctioned. Consequently, he has directed Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments and Agencies to monitor the attendance to duty of the workers today and report accordingly. But, IPOB leadership in Ebonyi State wrote off the state government’s threat. It said: “Our activities will go on tomorrow (today) as planned all over the world, not only here, in Ebonyi. Government has no right, whatsoever, to takeover anybody’s shop on the grounds of closing their shops to obey the sit-at-home order.” Regardless, Owerri, the Imo State capital, was calm yesterday ahead of today’s sit-at-home order. When Daily Sun monitored the situation in Owerri, yesterday, residents went about their lawful businesses as usual. On May 22, members of Movement for the Actualisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) had celebrated their own Biafra day with a street march. However, many members of the two groups were arrested by security agencies, but were later released. Meanwhile, the Anambra state Police Command yesterday said the police and other security agents are battle ready to deal decisively with any pro-Biafra group that tries to disrupt the peace of the citizens today. The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Garba Baba Umar, in a statement, urged the people to disregard alleged the sit-at-home order and go about their lawful businesses. He said: “For the avoidance of doubt IPOB is still a proscribed organisation, hence, all its activities remains illegal. START TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE HERE“The command will, therefore, not hesitate to deal decisively with, in accordance with the law, any individual or groups, under any guise, that will disrupt public peace.”

BIAFRA : fears in South East over sit-at-home

In Enugu State, there was heavy security presence in all the strategic points in the state capital, while fighter jets were hovering the state. Regardless, members of the Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF) have vowed to go ahead with their planned declaration of Biafra today. He said: “Fighter jets deployed by the Federal Government are hovering everywhere in Enugu State. The agenda is simple, to intimidate and instill fear in us and our members. “But, we want to make it clear that we cannot be intimidated; that era is gone. Should anything happen to any of our members tomorrow (today), all those involved will pay dearly for it. “Nigeria is already in panic. Buhari is in serious fear. You can see them flying fighter jets all over; this is what is called intimidation. They have failed.” Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, has warned that the police will not tolerate any act or omission by any person or groups under any guise to disrupt the existing peace in the state. The commissioner, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said:  “Any person or group of persons caught in any habit or omission capable of disrupting the existing peace in the state will be made to face the full weight of the law.” The security around the government House, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army headquarters and state police headquarters have been heavily guarded with fierce looking security operatives. There were also fears and anxiety in Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State, as IPOB had insisted there was no going on the call to remain indoors when they marched through the major streets and roads in Onitsha on Monday, instilling fear on residents and traders. Daily Sun gathered that the Onitsha main market witnessed a crowd of people rushed to make last minute purchase for fear of what may happen today. A market leader in Anambra State, who did not want his name in prints, said: “We are going to open our markets and traders should open their shops for business. There is no way the pro-Biafra group will force us to close our businesses, because they are doing anniversary.”

BIAFRA : Why young Africans need to know about their history

My grandmother, Theresa Nsionu, told me about how she ran from town to town with her children to escape the violence during the Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War). Photo by Chika Oduah      Biafran War Memories. Fifty-one years ago, a political decision changed the course of my life and I wasn't even born when it was made.

After several bouts of ethnic hostilities in Nigeria during which thousands of Igbo people were murdered and chased out of cities, back to their ancestral communities in southeastern Nigeria, leaders from the southeast declared on May 30, 1967 that the region would breakaway from Nigeria and form the Republic of Biafra. Diplomatic efforts to unite Nigeria failed; war spilled out and continued pouring out atrocities for three years. The land of my birth- southeastern Nigeria- collapsed into a battlefield: Nigeria versus Biafra. Most of the Biafrans were like me, Igbo. My mother, an Igbo woman, was a six-year-old child when she ran away from a city in central Nigeria where Igbo people were being "slaughtered like chickens," as my grandmother told me. Mom journeyed with her mother and siblings from one town to the next, fleeing Nigerian soldiers. She ended up in a camp where children died of malnutrition everyday.. He stayed in his village, a hamlet nestled in a dense forest resting on the bank of the Niger River. It became a refuge of hundreds of Igbo families who had nowhere else to go. No one knows how many people died in the war and the Nigerian government has never presented an official death toll of it. Neither has the United Nations but estimates range from one to three million. Relatives I never knew disappeared and no one held funerals for them.

IPOB : Public/Private Facilities Shut Down In Many Parts Of South-East As ‘Biafra Day’ Is Celebrated

the day was observed in many parts of Enugu State, with a group even going as far as attempting to invade the state government house to fly the Biafra flag. There had been fears that the celebration would flop due to the disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, and the heavy presence of security agencies in the geopolitical zone. Although this year’s celebration wasn’t as intense as last year’s, the ‘Biafra Day’ celebration was nevertheless observed in majority of south-eastern states on Wednesday in compliance with the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). But despite this, the day was observed in many parts of Enugu State, with a group even going as far as attempting to invade the state government house to fly the Biafra flag.

Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, was on lockdown as residents observed the sit-at-home order. The streets were deserted — so also were schools, markets and private stalls. Commercial transport drivers did not operate, and even the famous Ariaria International Market did not open. Banks opened for business but customers were few and far between. The few private schools that opened eventually shut down earlier than normal, fearing the possibility of attack by Biafra loyalists. However, in Umuahia, residents completely ignored the sit-at-home order, as commercial and social activities proceeded without interruption. Government offices were open, and civil servants went about at their normal business at the State Secretariat. Private and public schools were also open, same as banks, markets and neighbourhood. Commercial vehicles, including tricycle operators, worked too. In Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State, as well as Nnewi, there was total compliance. Traders and residents sat back at home, while banks, car parks, schools, gas stations and markets, including the renowned Onitsha Main Market, were all graveyards. The Onitsha-Enugu expressway was deserted from its Asaba end of the road to Zik’s Roundabout to New Motor Spare Parts Nkpor and the former Ogbunike Toll Gate — same as all the federal highways. Also, the usually-busy Upper Iweka was deserted. In Nnewi, an IPOB member was shot in a clash with a combined team of the Army and Police at St Mary’s Anglican Church junction. Some people believed to be IPOB members had made a bonfire and blocked the roads, which led to an altercation with the security agents that tried to stop them. In Enugu State, compliance so high that at the ever-busy Main Market Enugu, nearly all the shops were closed. The few shops that opened were patronized by only a handful of customers. Police arrested more than 21 members and the leader of Biafran Zionists Movement (BZM), Benjamin Onwuka, who headed to the Government House as early as 7 am to fulfill their initial vow to hoist the Biafran flag at the State House. However, they hadn’t even reached the gate of the seat of power when they were arrested by security operatives. Meanwhile, in Nsukka, the sit-at-home order was completely ignored. Markets, schools. government offices, banks and commercial workers all opened for business. There were even classes at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka. A student of the university who spoke with SaharaReporters said she is not a Biafran. When asked why the Biafran Day was not celebrated in Nsukka, she said: “Biafra Day? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a Nigerian, not a Biafram.” In Ebonyi State, people went about their businesses as normal — and no one harassed them — as joint patrol teams of major security agencies were seen all over the capital, Abakaliki, to forestall breakdown of law and order. Whatever harassment they got came a day earlier, when David Umahi, Governor of the state, warned in his May 29 Democracy Day speech that any trader who closed their shop would forfeit it forever Notably, the Abakaliki Main Market, the Meat Market and the Kpirikpiri Market were all open for business. Speaking with journalists on the Governor’s behalf, Kenneth Ugbala, Senior Special Assistant to Umahi on Internal Security, Kenneth Ugbala, said the state could not leave its productive periods to engage in nothing “because we have suffered criminal marginalisation from the states we were carved out from and we want to meet up and we cannot sit at home when we are supposed to be working”. “I have gone round the two major businesses area in the state. I visited the banks, Abakpa Main Market, the parks where commuters do their businesses and I am happy that in Ebonyi State, we have full compliance to the directive of government,” he said. “Even in the rural communities or areas, we don’t have any challenge at all. The light cases that cropped in had been resolved in the rural areas; we want to thank God; we want to advise those championing the cause of IPOB or MASSOB to follow the normal process that will be in line with the law.”IPOB, though, hailed the occasion as largely successful. “We the family members of IPOB worldwide wish to congratulate all Biafrans and lovers of freedom all over Biafraland and various parts of Southern Nigeria who contributed immensely towards the successful outcome of our heroes remembrance day by sitting at home as directed by the leadership of IPOB,” read a statement issued by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. “We salute the uncommon courage and resoluteness of all Biafrans that defied the military threats, intimidation from Arewa Consultative Forum and S’East governors to sit-at-home across the length and breadth of Biafraland.”

IPOB : Court forecloses Nigeria govt’s objection to bail of IPOB members

Justice Binta Nyako on Wednesday refused the letter from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN), which was signed by one Y. Cole requesting for an adjournment on the grounds that the office did not file a counter affidavit to the bail application by defence counsel in the matter. A Federal High Court in Abuja has foreclosed the objection of the Federal Government to the bail application by four members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The judge subsequently fixed June 25 for ruling on the bail applications brought by Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie. Defence lawyers Chukwudi Igwe, P.A.N Ejiofor and Maxwel Okpara had cited health grounds for their application for the bail of their clients, which the prosecution failed to object to before the application was adjourned for ruling. The defendants, whose cases were separated from the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu (who is said to be at large) are facing three count-charges of treasonable felony of setting up illegal broadcast stations in UK and Nigeria for the secession of the South East, South South and parts of Benue and Kogi states from Nigeria. They are also charged with illegal importation of radio transmitter, and unlawful possession of firearms.