BIAFRA : IPOB should not come near Umuahia – CP

Following the tension that is building up as the date for the burial of the parents of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu draws closer, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon in this interview with OKEY SAMPSON in Umuahia has warned members of the pro Biafra group not to come near Umuahia, the Abia State capital under the guise of coming for the burial or they would have themselves to blame.

The burial of the parents of IPOB leader, Nnmadi Kanu is coming up next week, the pro Biafra group said they would participate actively. Is  the Police comfortable with that?

Do you think we will sit down here and allow IPOB to participate in the burial? Whoever thinks along that line is fooling himself. IPOB will dance during the burial and the police elephants will dance too.

IPOB said they are not coming for war or cause any trouble, but just to pay the parents of their leader their last respect. How would police react to that?

I have already reached out to the traditional prime minister of Afaraukwu (Nnamdi Kanu’s community) and told him that if they want the burial to go smoothly and for police to give them security, they should tell IPOB not to near the area not to talk of participating in the burial. If they fail to adhere to what we’ve told them, that means they do not want the burial to go on smoothly because we are going to scatter the place. IPOB is proscribed by the Federal Government. I, as the Commissioner of Police in Abia cannot sit here and allow any proscribed group to operate anywhere in this state. I am saying this again for emphasis that there is no way police will allow a proscribed group to participate in the burial of the King and Queen of Afaraukwu simply because they are the parents of their acclaimed leader, we will not allow that and we cannot take anything for granted in the face of abundant intelligence on threat by IPOB.  If the burial committee writes to police to provide security during the burial, we will oblige them on the condition that they will guarantee us that IPOB will never, ever be part of the burial, IPOB will never get near there, in fact that IPOB will never, ever enter Umuahia. That police will not see any Biafra flag, IPOB insignia or IPOB member disguising as Jewish or Zionist Church members.

 In a burial of this nature, how would one identify who is an IPOB member or not?

If they come for the burial as ordinary people, not as a group, without Biafra flag or insignia, we won’t know them. But if they come

as a group, with their Biafra flags and insignia and we identify them that is where the problem will come because as a group, the Federal Government has described them as a terrorist group and proscribed them. And it is within our mandate to maintain law and order and we have to make sure that law and order is maintained.

IPOB is emphatic that its members will participate in the burial, what are we expecting?

By saying they were coming for the burial, they are sending signal to us telling us to be ready for them and we will be ready for them. We’ve told the organizers of the burial, if IPOB members are allowed to participate, we will do everything within our powers to disperse and if in the process the burial is disrupted, police will not be blamed.

Would the police contemplate cancelling the burial if intelligence report has it that IPOB participation may cause a break down of law and order?

Police did not organize the burial and so cannot cancel their burial, but if IPOB insists on hijacking the burial and taking it up, I will do everything within my powers and within the ambit of the law to make sure that IPOB does not bring a breakdown of law and order in this place. So, they are seriously warned in their own interest.

group warns Nnamdi Kanu about the funeral of the parents

Barely three days before his royal highness’s funeral ceremony, the late Eze Israel Okwu Kanu from Afaraukwu parish, the state of Umuahia, Abia and his wife, the late Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Okwu Kanu, have patents from the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Canoe; An Igbo socio-cultural and political organization, the Imeobi Igbo Forum, has asked the IPOB leader to stay away from the burial site so as not to be noticed by those who are after him.

Speaking to journalists in Onitsha, Anambra state, the forum’s national chair, chief Mike Ikegulu-Onugha, said: “Canoes should stay away from the funeral arena until all questions are resolved.”

“He should wait until the coast is clear for him to come back. The dead must be buried whether Nnamdi is nearby or not. When he comes home, it is an opportunity for those looking for him to get him.

We shouldn’t wait for him to come back before the dead are buried. The federal government should let me come and bury his parents. I wish he would come and bury his parents the way I did.

“But instead of getting involved in all kinds of problems and military matters, it is better for him to hold back.”

He went on to say, “The federal government should forgive a freedom fighter who asks for a democratic / judicial means of independence. I see no harm in him, the President should forgive him for coming back. “

The chairman of the national forum, who sympathized with Nnamdi Kanu’s family about their parents’ death, asked them to reflect and explain that “stories like these appear in all struggles. These are stories that are better told in life. His parents died in the fight, let’s not say a word about it. The fight paid tribute to them, ”he continued.

BIAFRA : Igbo group warns Nnamdi Kanu about the funeral of the parents

Fugitive leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from his safe haven in London has threatened to deal with the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon should there be any killing on 14 February when his parents would be buried in Afaraukwu.

In a message on Facebook, Kanu downgraded the commissioner and called him ‘Inspector Okon”.  Nicodemus saviour

He wrote: “If Inspector Okon and his commanders come to my father’s house to kill anyone on 14th February 2020 at my parents’ burial, we will hunt down their children,” posting Okon’s photograph along.

If Inspector Okon and his commanders come to my father's house to kill anyone on 14th February 2020 at my parents' burial, we will hunt down their children.

Kanu’s threat was the latest in the battle of wits between the security agents and Kanu’s followers in IPOB as the burial date of the parents gets nearer.

Okon in an interview on 7 February warned IPOB members to steer clear of the burial.

“Do you think we will sit down here and allow IPOB to participate in the burial? Whoever thinks along that line is fooling himself. IPOB will dance during the burial and the police elephants will dance too.

“I have already reached out to the traditional prime minister of Afaraukwu (Nnamdi Kanu’s community) and told him that if they want the burial to go smoothly and for police to give them security, they should tell IPOB not to near the area not to talk of participating in the burial. If they fail to adhere to what we’ve told them, that means they do not want the burial to go on smoothly because we are going to scatter the place.

“IPOB is proscribed by the Federal Government. I, as the Commissioner of Police in Abia cannot sit here and allow any proscribed group to operate anywhere in this state. I am saying this again for emphasis that there is no way police will allow a proscribed group to participate in the burial of the King and Queen of Afaraukwu simply because they are the parents of their acclaimed leader, we will not allow that and we cannot take anything for granted in the face of abundant intelligence on threat by IPOB.

“If the burial committee writes to police to provide security during the burial, we will oblige them on the condition that they will guarantee us that IPOB will never, ever be part of the burial, IPOB will never get near there, in fact that IPOB will never, ever enter Umuahia. That police will not see any Biafra flag, IPOB insignia or IPOB member disguising as Jewish or Zionist Church members”.

Following the interview, Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) issued its own warning asking the police to keep off the burial.

President of OYC, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka warned that any move by the police to disrupt the event in Afaraukwu, Abia state would be resisted by his group.

“We in OYC see this tough talk and boastful outburst from the police boss in Abia as reopening the wounds of the Nigeria-Biafra war, which was declared “no victor, no vanquished” by the then Nigerian military government.

“Okon’s deadly outburst at this point, if not dragging Nigeria back to the repeat of the 1966 crisis, is capable of causing chaos and anarchy in the country. As worrisome and shameful as this could be at this hour, we are compelled to advise Mr Okon that no reasonable security agency launches or deploys a crime fighting system where there is no crime.

“Any move to disrupt the burial or launch ‘Operation Elephant Dance’ by the Nigeria Police Force would be solely viewed as an act of conventional war against Ndigbo, and we must resist it with anything within our reach.”

Kanu’s kinsmen, expecting some trouble, have asked IPOB members to keep away from the burial.

The Afaraukwu community in Umuahia North council area of Abia State last week Wednesday declared members of the Indigenous People of Biafra personae non gratae at the burial of the parents of Nnamdi Kanu, their founder.

Kanu’s younger brother also echoed the warning.

The burial of His Royal Highness Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife, Ugoeze Meme Sally Kanu is slated for 14 February in their country home, Isiama Afaraukwu community in Umuahia local government area of Abia state.

President General , Afaraukwu community, Chief Ikechukwu Ndubueze, who briefed the media on the preparations for the burial, said the community wants a peaceful burial for their late monarch and his wife.

IPOB : Igbo group warns Nnamdi Kanu against attending parents’ burial

WATCH THE BEST BIAFRA VIDOE   BIAFRA    Barely three days to the burial ceremony of His Royal Highness, late Eze Israel Okwu Kanu of Afaraukwu community, Umuahia, Abia State and wife, late Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Okwu Kanu, parents of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu; an Igbo socio-cultural and political organization, Imeobi Igbo Forum, has begged the IPOB leader to keep off the burial venue to avoid being noticed by those going after him.

Addressing newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra State, the National Chairman of the forum, Chief Mike Ikegulu-Onugha, stated that, “Kanu should steer clear of the burial arena until all the issues are resolved.”  Nicodemus saviour

“He should wait until the coast is clear for him to come back. The dead must be buried whether Nnamdi is around or not. If he comes home, it is an opportunity for those who are looking for him to get him. 

“We should not wait until he returns before the dead is buried. Left for me, the government of the federation should allow him to come and bury his parents. I wish he will come and bury his parents the way I did mine.

“However, rather than come and get involved in all sorts of trouble and military things and all sorts of issues, it is better for him to keep off.”

He spoke further saying, “The Federal Government should forgive a freedom fighter who is asking for a democratic/judicial means of independence. I see no harm in him, the President should pardon him to come back.”

The forum National chairman while sympathising with the family of Nnamdi Kanu over the demise of their parents, urged them to take heart stating that, “in all struggles, stories like this comes up. These are stories that will be told better in life. His parents died in the struggle, let us not mince words about it. The struggle has taken toll on them,” he stated further.

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Full Audio Of Nnamdi Kanu’s February 8 Live Broadcast

The full live broadcast the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu delivered on Radio Biafra on Saturday, February 8 ahead of the burial ceremony of his parents has emerged.

This online news platform had reported earlier that the parents of the IPOB leader, late HRH Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife late Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Okwu-Kanu will be buried on Valentine’s day, Friday, February 14, 2020.

Naija News reports that ahead of the burial ceremony, the governor of Abia State, southeast Nigeria, Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the state ministry of works to ensure the immediate reconstruction of Eze I. O. Kanu road in Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area (LGA).

While IPOB members are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Mr. Kanu for the burial ceremony, the Afaraukwu community in Umuahia North council area of Abia State, the home town of Mr. Kanu, have handed out a warning to IPOB members to stay away, appealing for peace at the burial.

Like Nnamdi Kanu’s kinsmen, his younger brother has urged the Nigerian Army to stay away from the burial and allow the community to bury their late monarch and his wife in a peaceful manner.

With just a week to the burial ceremony, Kanu took to Radio Biafra, a  platform he uses to disseminate information to pro-Biafra agitators, to address Biafrans.

Kanu spoke on his parents’ forthcoming burial ceremony, the sponsor of IPOB, Buratai, Abia Commissioner of Police, Buhari, Aisha Buhari, among other pressing issues.

BIAFRA : Nigerian Catholics reflect on 50th anniversary of Biafran War

Oguta Lake in Imo state, Southeastern Nigeria, is pictured May 2019. Southeastern Nigeria is home to the Igbo people. (Wikimedia Commons/Tọ́pẹ́ Láńre Bello)

Biafra nation is all about freedom of the people, we stand up for biafra nation

Editor's note: Fifty years ago, the Biafran War officially came to an end with the signing of the surrender documents by Gen. Philip Effiong, the administrator of Biafra, after Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu went into exile in 1970. However, there are still unresolved issues surrounding the war: growing agitation for separation, no cenotaph erected or wreaths laid at the tomb of those who fought and died in the war. NCR's freelance correspondent, Patrick Egwu spoke to some Catholics on the anniversary.

Biafra is all we want, give freedom to the people of biafra nation

LAGOS, NIGERIA — On July 6, 1967, war broke out between a Muslim Hausa dominated government of Nigeria and Biafra — an area mostly dominated by Christian Igbos living in the country's south geopolitical zones. Nigeria had won independence from British colonial rule Oct. 1, 1960.

Biafra has come to stay, with the power of God in mazi nnamdi kanu

A coup in 1966 by Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an army general from the South East region, led to death of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and other top leaders from northern Nigeria dominated by Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups.

The north felt betrayed in the coup as no Igbo leader was killed. Six months later, a counter-coup was launched by Gen. Yakubu Gowon and other young military officers from the north. Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in the process, and what followed was a pogrom, a series of massacres and increased violent riots targeted at the Igbos living in northern Nigeria. Reports say more than 80,000 to 100,000 Igbos were killed, while more than one million fled back to the eastern region.

On May 30, 1967, Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a Catholic from the Igbo ethnic group, declared the eastern region as an independent Republic of Biafra following the massacre of his people. When several peace agreements and negotiations brokered between the two sides failed, Nigeria's federal government launched a military operation to reunite the breakaway republic. What followed was a 30-month civil war that claimed the lives of more than 2 million people, predominantly from the Biafran side.

"It was a dark moment in our history," Fr. Gerald Ohaeri, a Spiritan priest and member of the Holy Ghost Congregation, told NCR. "The war was a war of liberation for everybody in the East," he says referring to Igbos living in South East Nigeria. "Everybody felt we were being marginalized and we felt we should be on our own and that was what caused the whole thing."

Ohaeri was a 16-year-old seminarian in high school when the Biafran war started. As a Seminarian, Ohaeri was active during the war — not in the battle field but as a volunteer for Caritas — the arm of the Catholic Church that responds to emergencies, promotes development and advocates for a fair and just world.

"We visited camps with victims of the war to deliver relief materials to them," Ohaeri, whose brother fought as a soldier during the war, says

Memorials in commemoration of the end of the war

On Jan. 15, 1970, the Biafran War ended with millions of deaths, casualties and displaced persons recorded.

Each year, across Nigeria, events and remembrance ceremonies are held by people from the Eastern region who were mostly affected by the war. Public events, book readings and film exhibitions were held to reflect and remember those who died during the war and those still living with the scars of the war.

On Jan. 15, 2020, the Centre for Memories (CFM), a repository of Igbo history and culture, premiered a documentary titled "January 15, 1970: Untold Memories from the Nigeria-Biafra War" to coincide with the day the surrender document was signed by Effiong.

Another series of exhibitions will be held Feb. 7 and 8 in the city of Enugu — the once headquarters of the defunct Republic of Biafra. In 2017, CFM launched its inaugural civil war exhibition. The exhibition used photos and artifacts, to capture memories about the legacies of the war. The CFM has organized a monthly lecture series and book readings where events surrounding the war would be discussed.

Ohaeri said, "We are doing this memorial every year to conscientize ourselves on the problem that led to the war, and then we put things in place to make sure that those things are no longer with us."

"It is more than everything to me," Henry Ihuoma, who knew about the war from reading books, seeing documentaries and listening to his father who fought in the war, told NCR. "It reminds us of who we are and where we are coming from."

Henry Ihuoma, a parishioner at St. Jude's Catholic Church, Lagos, said the commemoration activities should be encouraged every year, as it is a platform for the younger generation to learn how to live today to avoid the mistakes of yesterday.

During the commemoration, Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osibajo visited the National War Museum, which showcases relics from the war. The museum, established in 1985, was aimed at putting aside the ugly episode of the war behind and moving forward towards the process of national reconciliation and healing.

"Without mincing words, the civil war was a defining national tragedy and a robust national conversation is necessary to aid the process of healing and reconciliation," Osibajo said in a tweet after visiting the museum. "The last 50 years belonged to us, but the next 50 years belong to our children and we must unshackle them from ghosts of ancient grudges and grievances," he said. "By their conduct, our children show us that it is possible to forge friendships, let us give them a chance to do better than ourselves."

Unresolved issues

Despite the ugly episodes of the war, Nigeria hasn't learned its lessons and is still at the brink of another possible war as a result of growing agitations and protests by different regions to break away from the country.

For instance, a group known as the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra [IPOB] is agitating for a break-away from Nigeria and reestablishing the Republic of Biafra. Since 2015, the IPOB has organized peaceful demonstrations and sit-at-home protests, demanding independence. The group founded by Nnamdi Kanu, an Igbo, cites marginalization, insecurity and corruption — triggers of the Biafran war as reasons for their agitation. However, the group's movements and activities have been met with bloody opposition from Nigeria's security forces. In 2016, Amnesty International accused Nigerian army of killing 150 pro-Biafran peaceful protesters. In 2017, the federal government proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organization.

Ohaeri said the country is not serious in its reconciliation efforts. The priest told NCR that Nigeria's memorial of the war is not done the right way as he had seen in other countries that went through bloody wars, especially Germany, where he once lived.

"If we had a memorial at the end of the war, it would have taken care of all these agitations," Ohaeri said. "The memorial is to say, 'This war was fought and we made a mistake or we did not make a mistake?' What were the mistakes we made? We must correct them so that war will not come again. But if you don't correct those mistakes, they will keep reoccurring like you have all these agitations going on."

"The agitators say this country is not working, it's not a home. So the same problems that were there in the first place are still there," he said.

The Nigerian government has been accused of not publicly apologizing to the Igbos who were largely affected in the war.

"After 50 years of fighting the war, no government in the country has ever apologized for the genocide committed against the people," Ihuoma said. "I think that is the biggest problem, and it's quite unfortunate."

"People are not comfortable with Nigeria because the country is not working, and that is the problem. But if we address the issues realistically and sincerely, all these agitations will fizzle out," Ohaeri told NCR. "That is how to solve problems."

[Patrick Egwu is a freelance journalist based in Nigeria.]

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Buhari told to attend Nnamdi Kanu’s parent’s burial, grant presidential pardon to IPOB leader

BIAFRANS The Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide has told President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, presidential pardon to come home for the burial of his parents.

According to the apex Igbo youth organization, the international community is watching the Nigerian government on Kanu parent’s burial.

OYC called on Buhari to pull out the military from Afaraukwu, the hometown of the Kanus in Umuahia, the State capital.

The position of the youth organization was contained in a statement signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
President-General of the OYC and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, its Secretary-General.

The youth group said it is worried about the military presence at the village of the IPOB leader “few days to the burial of HRM, Eze I O Kanu and his wife.

They warned that any form of human rights abuse on the people of the community during the burial of their traditional leader would cause damage to the international reputation of President Buhari and the image of Nigeria before the world.

According to OYC, the international community is “watching keenly to see if there will be any form of human rights violations and abuses by Nigeria’s Military before, during and after the burial rites next Weekend.”

OYC insisted that there’s no need for any provocative action which may promote violence by the Nigerian military before, during and after the burial of HRM Eze Kanu, adding that Abia State is calm and secure.

“Buhari should pull out military and accord the last respect for the late King by granting permission and presidential pardon to Nnamdi Kanu to return and bury his parents according to Igbo tradition and culture.

“There’s nothing amiss if President Buhari in person or through high power delegation attend and send a condolence message to the people of Afaraukwu Umuahia on the Demise of their Paramount Ruler and his wife.

“Such presidential gesture will portray him as a good father of the nation, irrespective of the self-evident of IPOB’s stance on self-determination and injustice melted by systematic structure against Igbos after 50 years of Biafra War Civil.

“The presidential pardon to Kanu and release of other Biafra agitators in detention and sending a delegation to the burial will be applauded by both International Community and Nigerians at home.

“[This] will attract more respect for President Buhari, as such Presidential gesture granted to Bashorun MKO Abiola, to appease the Yorubas should be applied now to restore more confidence of Igbos in this regime… what’s good to the goose is also good for the Gander.

“OYC salute Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for the kind gesture granted to the Afaraukwu Umuahia community through the appeal made by the President-General and the Prime Minister of the Community for solid road construction for the community in preparation for the late Paramount Ruler HRM Eze Kanu and his wife burial.

“OYC urge other Southeast Governors to rebuild the palace destroyed during the Operation Python Dance.

“We urge Biafra agitators to slow down on any action that might attract negative stories during the burial. There should be no display of Biafra flags and Uniforms, protests and other things that might give security agents the impetus to wade in and wreak havoc during the burial.

“OYC console Ndigbo and Kanu Family on the demise of the Paramount Ruler HRM Eze Kanu and his wife. May God grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

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