BIAFRA NEWS : Kanu receives legal team in DSS custody, upbeat on Appeal Court victory

 

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has again received his legal team in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and expressed optimism that the terrorism charges against him would be quashed by the Court of Appeal.

The legal team on a routine visit granted by the Federal High Court was led to Kanu by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ifeanyi Ejiofor who were accompanied by some of Kanu’s family members.

The visit was to give the detained Biafra nation agitator, feedback on the Court of Appeal’s proceedings of September 13, where the legal team prayed the Appellate Court to dismiss the remaining 7 charges of terrorism and treasonable felony brought against him by the Federal Government.

A statement just released by Ejiofor after the visit said that Kanu was in high spirit and confident that the Court of Appeal in Abuja would discharge and acquit him from the terrorism charges.

Ejiofor disclosed that Kanu used the visit to send words of appeal to his followers to remain consistent, resolute, unshaken, focused and prayerful with the hope that there must be light at the end of the tunnel.

The lawyer in the statement made available to DAILY POST hinted that Kanu is very optimistic that “the trial phase is gradually coming to an end”.

The statement read in part “The court-ordered routine visit to our client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has just been concluded at the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, where he is still being held in solitary confinement for over 14 months.

“Feedback was provided to him on the September 13 Court of Appeal proceedings in his appeal against the Federal High Court ruling upholding 7 charges against him. Kanu was elated on the performance and legal prowess demonstrated by his legal team, led by Chief Mike Ozekome, SAN.

“Kanu was enthused by the accounts of the advocacy and submissions of Chief Ozekhome, SAN, during the proceeding, happy with the panel of Justices and was completely convinced that justice is already in the offing

“He was deeply touched by the sacrifices of UmuChineke, who despite the heavy downpour witnessed in Abuja on that fateful day, still thronged the Court, in a show of uncommon solidarity and support for him.

“Kanu unequivocally reiterated his abiding confidence in his dogged legal team, who have always been up to the daunting task.

“Onyendu remains firm, tenacious and holding very strongly to his conviction that his trial will surely end in victory.”

Kanu had on September 13 prayed the Court of Appeal in Abuja to review the April 8 ruling of the Federal High Court which struck out only eight out of the 15-count charge and upheld 7 charges against him.

In his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, Kanu insisted that the treasonable felony charges against him had no basis in law and applied to be discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.

Ozekhome, who argued the appeal on his behalf, urged the appellate court to order his release from DSS solitary confinement.

Kanu’s grouse was that the charge gave unlawful global jurisdiction to the high court and that it also failed to disclose the location or date the alleged offences were committed.

A 3-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Jummai Hanatu has, however, reserved judgment in the appeal till a date that would be communicated to parties involved.

BIAFRA NEWS : Queen Elizabeth backed Nigeria during Biafran War –Buhari

 

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on Saturday said the United Kingdom under the late Queen Elizabeth stood by Nigeria during torrid times.

He said the UK during the Civil War between 1967 and 1970 supported the unity of Nigeria, adding that the Queen visited the country twice before her demise.

The President spoke during a condolence visit to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, at her residence in Abuja on Saturday. He was represented by the Secretary to the Government to the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Buhari said, “We have maintained very close ties with the monarchy. She was a very gracious and elegant queen.  For the purposes of remembrance, the fact is that 90 per cent of Nigerians do not know any monarch in the UK other than the queen. We welcome the new king and we look forward to a strong working relationship with the UK.

“They have been a very strong ally even in the midst of our difficult time during the Biafran war; they stood for the indivisibility of the Nigerian state, supported and ensured that we overcame that problem.

We are partnering to deal with the insurgency so that it doesn’t overwhelm us. They have always stood as a very strong ally.”

Buhari added, “The head of the commonwealth to which we belong. Not only that, she was the head of state for three years from 1960 to 1963 and when we became a republic she ceased to be. We have had very close ties with the queen. She visited the country twice; first in 1953 when she spent about 20 days visiting different towns, and the second one was in 2003 during president Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure.”

Laing had said on Friday that a condolence book would be opened at the High Commission Office in the Central Business District area of Abuja from September 12 to 16 and on 19th from 11am to 3pm daily. 

Charles had emerged as the king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, but Saturday’s event confirmed his ascendancy to the throne. The Queen died peacefully on Thursday at her Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

The Washington Post reported that the Accession Council convened on Saturday for what was considered “a constitutional formality to recognise Charles’ sovereignty”.

He read and signed an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland, where there is a separation of powers between the Church and State. He later signed copies of the declaration, with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla; son, Prince William; and Prime Minister, Liz Truss, also signing the declaration as witnesses. 

Normal parliamentary business has been suspended during a period of mourning for the queen. The House of Commons is holding a rare Saturday session so that lawmakers could pay tribute to the late monarch, according to the New York Times.

Elizabeth for burial

The late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is scheduled for Monday, September 19, according to New York Times. The event, which would hold in Westminster Abbey, is expected to be attended by world leaders.

The remains of the late monarch are expected to lie in state for four days and mourners would be able to pay their respect. On Sunday (today), the Queen’s coffin would be taken from Balmoral to Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh ahead of the state funeral.

On Monday, the Queen’s coffin would be moved by procession to St Giles’ Cathedral, accompanied by the King and members of the royal family. Currently, the coffin is covered with the Royal Standard, with a wreath of flowers placed on top.

PM pays allegiance

Prime Minister Truss and senior members of her government have also taken oaths of loyalty to King Charles III in the House of Commons.

House of Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, was the first to pledge he would “bear true allegiance to his Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors,” followed by the longest-serving lawmakers and the prime minister.

Charles proclaimed king

King Charles III was on Saturday afternoon proclaimed as the king, Sunday PUNCH reports. The event held at St. James’ Palace, which is the most senior royal palace in the United Kingdom. The event was steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism.

BIAFRA NEWS : Britain owes Igbo apology, compensation for Biafra’s destruction – Prof Anya

 

Nigerian-born American lecturer, Uju Anya, has been in the eye of the storm since her tweet wishing the late Queen Elizabeth   II ‘excruciating death’. The professor of Second Language Acquisition, Department of Modern Languages, Carnegie Mellon University, United States of America tells GODFREY GEORGE she spoke from a place of deep pain and is unapologetic about her post

Were you born in Nigeria?

First of all, I would love to say I am Ada Igbo (the first daughter of Igbo land). They cannot deny me (my heritage) because I am a lesbian. I am a child of Igbo land – I am of an Igbo father, and that is who I am. I don’t disown them; they cannot disown me. I am also a child of Trinidad because my mother is from Trinidad. So, I am African and Caribbean. I have lived in the United States for almost 40 years now; I have been here since 1986. I came here when I was 10 years old, and I am now 46. So, I also consider myself American. I am a very proud mother of two intelligent, loving and kind children biologically and I have one stepson. I am also a professor and academic researcher of language learning and multilingualism.

Your tweet wishing the late Queen Elizabeth II an ‘excruciating death’ sparked outrage from many quarters around the world. Are you regretful you made that post?

No, I am not, I have to be very honest with you. I am not. My tweet came from a place of deep pain and deep emotions. It was not something that I planned or calculated. It was spontaneous and was part of my emotional reaction to the impending death of my oppressor. It was spontaneous at the time. However, it is not something I regret or something that I will ever apologise for. I will rest, sleeping every night, knowing that I told the truth.

 

You mentioned that your ancestors suffered in the Biafran war, for which you hold the British responsible. Can you give some details of the kind of experience your people went through?

It was not just my ancestors, but also my immediate and living relatives. There were family members who died but there are also people who are still alive today who survived the genocide. This is because this is a very recent history and a recent memory. The war ended in 1970, and many people who witnessed it are still alive today. I was born in ’76 and I lived in the aftermath of the war. My family suffered and some died. It was traumatic. My parents are dead now, but I have siblings alive today who went through Biafra as children. They were under the age of 10. Our family also has a war baby. My mother was pregnant during the war and gave birth to my second oldest brother in Biafra. So, this is something that is extremely close to me, and it is in my personal existence and in addition to the overall history of my family and the broader history of the Igbo people.

What stories did your family members tell you about what they went through during the war?

I am not claiming that I went through Biafra because I wasn’t born yet then, but it didn’t end in 1970. There were a lot of issues that we had to deal with. My childhood was filled with the reconstruction of war-torn buildings and sites and projects. My father was involved in such projects of reconstructions. When you think of people who went through a holocaust, then, you can imagine how traumatic it must have been. When I speak of ‘holocaust’, I am not speaking of the Jewish holocaust where we lost over six million people. ‘Holocaust’ itself means a ‘mass slaughter’, and what happened to the Igbo during Biafra was a massacre, where more than three million people were killed. All my family dinner table conversations were always about who ran where, who took cover where, who was buried where, who was lost and where the displaced people went. When people survive genocide and mass displacement, there is always going to be that shadow or spectre above surrounding everyone. To date, we are still mourning and talking about it. Ask any Igbo person, they are going to tell you that they are still affected by the war. This is something that is now a part of our legacy as a people; it was something that was done to us. This is something that the British did to us in the very beginning of how they orchestrated the division that caused the separatist movements or the formation of an independent country and how they supported those who committed the genocide by giving them weapons and military vehicles, hiring mercenaries to come and kill the Igbo people and giving the Nigerian soldiers bombs and military supplies, such as planes and whatever they needed to slaughter civilians. The three million people that died were not armed combatants; these were village people. All my life I have heard stories of my mother running with two children under the age of 10 and being pregnant with a third from village to village after they bombed each village that they ran to.

One of the most horrific stories that I will never forget for as long as I live is one my mother told me. She said the airplanes that were sent to bomb the villages flew so low that one could see the pilot inside the cockpits, laughing as he sprayed people with machine guns. These were villagers who were desperately running for their lives. My mother told me that it was a memory that was a part of her life. That was the grotesque nature of this attack on our lands. Where did they get those planes? Where did they get those bombs? Did Nigeria manufacture bombs and guns at that time? The British gave it to them, because of their interest in the oil that was in Igbo land. I also heard stories from the Ada of our family. She is 14 years older than me. She has stories of her own children, lying in a hole. She would run and jump inside a bunker filled with dead bodies. She would lie underneath dead bodies inside the hole to hide from soldiers. Can you imagine that for a child under 10 years old? This is what my people suffered in this genocide! Some of the people are still looking for their loved ones or where they buried them to date. Go to Enugu; there are still buildings that were destroyed and have not been able to be rebuilt after the war.

BIAFRA NEWS : Catalonia's bid for independence from Spain explained

 

 The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) congratulated the Catalans for their annual Independence celebration on September 11, 2022. 

Catalonia's independence movement is back in the headlines after Spain's Supreme Court jailed nine separatist leaders, prompting days of protests.

The crisis first flared in October 2017, when a banned independence referendum was met with a heavy police crackdown.

Madrid imposed direct rule on the region shortly after.

It is the country's biggest political crisis since democracy was restored in 1975, after the death of military dictator General Francisco Franco.

Catalonia is one of Spain's wealthiest and most productive regions and has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years.

 

Before the Spanish Civil War it enjoyed broad autonomy but that was suppressed under Gen Franco.

When Franco died, the region was granted autonomy again under the 1978 constitution and prospered as part of the new, democratic Spain.

A 2006 statute granted even greater powers, boosting Catalonia's financial clout and describing it as a "nation", but Spain's Constitutional Court reversed much of this in 2010.

The 2008 financial crash and Spanish public spending cuts fuelled local resentment and separatism.

There is a widespread feeling that the central government takes much more in taxes than it gives back.

But the complexity of budget transfers makes it hard to judge exactly how much more Catalans contribute than they get back from investment in services, such as schools and hospitals.

How did we get here?

Following a symbolic referendum in November 2014, outlawed by Spain, separatists won the 2015 regional election.

Catalonia's pro-independence leaders then went ahead with a full referendum on 1 October 2017, which was also declared illegal by Spain's constitutional court.

Organisers said 90% of voters backed a split. But turnout was only 43% amid a boycott by unionists.

In a febrile atmosphere the separatist majority in the Catalan parliament declared independence on 27 October.

 

Using the Article 155 emergency powers, Madrid dissolved parliament, sacked its leaders and called a snap election for 21 December.

Separatists won a slim majority. The following May, Catalonia's parliament swore in Quim Torra as their new president, after Madrid blocked several other candidates. Mr Torra vowed to continue fighting for independence.

The sight of Spanish national police beating voters, and politicians being jailed, revived disturbing memories, for some, of the Franco dictatorship.

Carles Puigdemont - then Catalan president - fled abroad with several other leaders. Many who remained were arrested and charged with treason.

Spain's Supreme Court finally sentenced nine of the arrested Catalan leaders in October, sparking the latest unrest.

Former vice president Oriol Junqueras was handed a 13-year prison sentence for sedition and misuse of public funds. The other eight receive sentences of between 12 and 9 years.

Demonstrators took to the streets in fury and have repeatedly clashed with police in some of the worst street violence to hit Spain in decades.

If the separatists do ever manage to split away, it would be hard for Catalonia to win recognition internationally.

New states mostly emerge from situations where ethnic groups have been victims of genocide or other major human rights abuses.

Kosovo was a huge humanitarian crisis for Europe - even so, many countries refuse to recognise it as independent.

What does the crisis mean for the country?

Catalonia has its own language and distinctive traditions, and a population nearly as big as Switzerland's (7.5 million). It is one of Spain's wealthiest regions, making up 16% of the national population and accounting for almost 19% of Spanish GDP.

It's also a vital part of the Spanish state, locked in since the 15th Century.

Barcelona has become one of the EU's best-loved city-break destinations, famed for its 1992 Summer Olympics, trade fairs, football and tourism.

Generations of people from poorer parts of Spain have moved there for work, forming strong family bonds with regions such as Andalusia.

During this crisis, the Catalan economy has suffered. Thousands of businesses, including major banks and energy firms, have moved their headquarters out of the region.

The EU has treated the crisis as an internal matter for Spain, deaf to the separatists' pleas for support.

However, there have been warnings that the issue is damaging Spain's democratic credentials.

In 2017 the Economist Intelligence Unit, which compiles an influential annual democracy ranking, said Spain risked being downgraded from a "full democracy" to a "flawed" one over its handling of the situation.

 

 

BIAFRA NEWS : Queen Elizabeth II dies, World leaders pay tribute after British monarch's passing

 

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully surrounded by her family

World leaders have started to pay tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II after her family announced her passing Thursday at the age of 96. 

Elizabeth’s 70-year reign ended as she passed peacefully in her Scottish home of Balmoral, surrounded by her family. Her son King Charles III said the Queen's passing was a moment of "the greatest sadness" for the royal family, and that her death will be "deeply felt" by "countless people around the world." 

President Biden praised the Queen for her "steadying presence" and acting as "a source of comfort and pride." He highlighted the Queen's "unmatched dignity" and her unmatched role as "the bedrock" of the special relationship between the U.S. and U.K. 

"She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection — whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the United Kingdom, or gathered around their televisions for her coronation, or watched her final Christmas speech or her Platinum Jubilee on their phones. And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service," he wrote in a statement. 

QUEEN ELIZABETH II, LONGEST-REIGNING BRITISH MONARCH, DEAD AT 96

Biden also remembered the Queen's comments following 9/11 in which the Queen reminded the world that "grief is the price we pay for love." 

President Biden praised Queen Elizabeth II for her "steadying presence" and acting as "a source of comfort and pride." (Stefan Wermuth)

U.S. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ordered flags flown at half-staff in response to the Queen’s passing. The House will also pass a "bereavement resolution" in honor of the Queen, which the House previously did with her father King George VI’s passing in 1952. 

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement that "the British people’s loss is the entire world’s loss," adding that "Americans join our friends in prayer, in grief, and in gratitude for such a remarkable leader and such a successful reign" and that the Queen was a "shining example" of "sterling character." 

CHARLES BECOMES KING OF ENGLAND AFTER DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Former President Donald Trump spoke of his "tremendous loss and sadness" upon learning of the Queen’s passing and sent condolences to the royal family and people of the U.K. during their "great sorrow and grief." He also remarked that the Queen would be remembered for her "faithfulness to her country and her unwavering devotion to her fellow countrymen and women."

"What a grand and beautiful lady she was—there was nobody like her!" Trump wrote on a Truth Social post. 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth stands with President Biden and first lady Jill Biden in the Grand Corridor during their visit at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain, on June 13, 2021. (Steve Parsons/Pool via REUTERS)

Former President Barack Obama said he and former first lady Michelle Obama were "lucky" to have met the Queen, who meant "a great deal" to them. "Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity," he said, adding that she showed them great warmth and "considerable humor and charm." 

Former President George W. Bush remarked on the Queen's "great intellect, charm and wit." 

QUEEN ELIZABETH II MET WITH 13 US PRESIDENTS, FROM TRUMAN TO BIDEN

"Spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty — and her Corgis — is among our fondest memories of the presidency," Bush said in a statement, adding that the world "benefitted from her steady resolve" and "her strong and steadfast friendship."

"Despite spending nearly three quarters of a century as one of the most famous and admired individuals on the planet, the Queen made sure her reign was never really about herself — not her fame, not her feelings, not her personal wants or needs," he continued. "She guided venerable institutions through modern times using timeless virtues like duty, dignity, and sacrifice."

Queen Elizabeth II meets Pope Francis, center, and former Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormack Murphy O'Connor at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City on April 3, 2014. (Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

Pope Francis issued a statement in which he offered his condolences to the U.K. and the royal family. He remarked on the Queen’s "devotion to duty" and her "steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ." 

The pope then offered a prayer in which he commended her soul "to the merciful goodness of our Heavenly Father, I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as King. Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord."

BIDEN, FIRST LADY MOURN DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II: ‘A STATESWOMAN OF UNMATCHED DIGNITY AND CONSTANCY’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Queen "a good friend" of the United Nations, noting two visits she made to speak at the New York headquarters. He added that she was "a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change." 

"She was deeply committed to many charitable and environmental causes and spoke movingly to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow," Guterres wrote in his statement. "I would like to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her unwavering, lifelong dedication to serving her people. The world will long remember her devotion and leadership."

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II raises a glass with President Donald Trump during a state banquet in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace on June 3, 2019. (DOMINIC LIPINSKI//GETTY IMAGES)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke of how the Queen marked Canada's modern history, noting that she would proclaim, "It was good to be home," when visiting the country. "She was indeed home here, and Canadians never ceased to return her affection." 

"Her Majesty vowed to devote her life to the service of the Commonwealth and its people," Trudeau wrote. "On behalf of all Canadians, I thank Queen Elizabeth II for honoring this vow and for a lifetime of service."

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: US SENATORS PRAISE, MOURN ‘EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN’ AFTER SEVEN DECADES AS MONARCH

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the Queen leaves behind "an unparalleled legacy of leadership and service," adding, "May her memory be for a blessing!"

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, "HM Queen Elizabeth II was known far and wide simply as The Queen. Her passing is the end of an era. Together with the Israeli people, I grieve her loss and extend my deepest sympathies to the British people and all nations of the Commonwealth, who have lost their matriarch."

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh stand with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle ahead of a private lunch hosted by the Queen in Windsor, England, on April 22, 2016. (REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool/File Photo)

"In her life and in her service to her people, the Queen embodied a spirit of integrity, duty & ancient tradition," Herzog added. "My late mother and father had several audiences with the Queen over the years. Her fond welcome and warm hospitality left a profound impression down the generations."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he learned of the Queen's death "with deep sadness" and that he extended "sincere condolences" to the royal family and the entire United Kingdom for their "irreparable loss." 

French President Emmanuel Macron said he remembered the Queen as "a friend of France," and that she "left a lasting impression on her country and her century." 

Russian President Vladimir Putin also extended condolences to the royal family, claiming that Elizabeth "rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects" in a statement issued and addressed directly to King Charles III. He urged Charles to persevere "in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss." 

Sir Richard Moore, head of British intelligence agency MI-6, praised the Queen for her "unparalleled" service as a "source of stability, good judgment and wisdom." 

"We owe a deep debt of gratitude for her unwavering devotion to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth," he wrote in his statement, adding that he was "always struck by her candor, wit and burning sense of duty." 

BIAFRA NEWS : Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi, Atiku react to death of Queen Elizabeth II

 

Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after the UK’s longest-serving monarch died on Thursday.

The Queen, who reigned for 70 years after coming to the throne in 1952, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle.

Her eldest son, Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead England in mourning as the new King.

Reacting, Jonathan, in a tweet via his Twitter handle, said the late Queen was a champion of social change and a protagonist of modern Britain, adding that her death will be deeply felt globally.

Jonathan tweeted: “My deepest condolences to King Charles, the United Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth over the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history.

“She was a well-loved sovereign with a strong sense of duty and service, a champion of social change and a protagonist of modern Britain.

“Her Majesty was a remarkable matriarch who exemplified dignity, selflessness, and compassion and, for a long time, stood as a symbol of unity in the Commonwealth.

“Her death will be deeply felt across the world. May God comfort her family and grant her soul eternal repose.- GEJ.”

Also reacting, Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wrote on Twitter: “I am saddened to hear of the passing on of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. My thoughts and prayers are with the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations, over this irreplaceable loss.

“Hers was an impactful reign and beautiful and explored life devoted to democratic ideals, charity, selflessness and empathy. She will always be remembered by the lives, organisations, institutions and countries she positively touched during her reign. May she rest in eternal peace. –PO.”

Similarly, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar also wrote on Twitter: “The passing of Queen Elizabeth II comes to everyone around the globe with a rude shock.

“Her passing is an end of a golden era. Her reign was epochal, not just in the United Kingdom but the entire Commonwealth.

“The world has known only one Queen, and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II will be the end of an impactful reign, and for the rest of our humanity, it shall be the beginning of history.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people and government of the United Kingdom and, importantly, the @RoyalFamily. May the soul of the Queen Rest in Peace. –AA.”

BIAFRA NEWS : IPOB Lists Out Names Of APC Party Members Who Held ‘Secret Meeting’ With Orji Uzor Kalu To Abduct 25 Biafran Members

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Nigerian Army of raiding and killing innocent residents of the South-East region inside the Ohafia Military Barracks in Abia State.

The group alleged that the army carried out the killings on the approval of the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.

IPOB made the allegation in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, saying that Kalu had murdered sleep and should be ready for a long-drawn battle by the group.

IPOB stated that it "confirms the report of barbaric and secret murder of arrested innocent Biafrans by Nigeria terrorist military inside Ohafia military barrack under the approval of Alhaji Orji Uzor Kalu. We want to inform Orji Kalu that he and his political accomplices have murdered sleep. They should be ready to confront IPOB in a long drawn battle."

According to IPOB, "Alhaji Orji Uzor Kalu and some people and soldiers in Ohafia held a secret meeting yesterday in Asaga Ohafia and celebrated the killing and execution of our members recently taken into Ohafia Military barracks. They agreed to deal with anybody suspected to be members or sympathisers of IPOB or Biafra agitation.

“They wrote down and submitted 25-names of young men to be abducted as IPOB members to the Nigeria military for possible execution."

The group noted that the security challenge of kidnapping and car snatching around Lokpanta, Isukwuato, Isuochi Umunneochi and Okigwe Umulolo routes were "created and spoon-fed by Alhaji Orji Uzor Kalu."

IPOB listed names of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members who it alleged were in the said secret meeting "Mr. Ibe Okpo; Hon. Anya Okorie; Chief Michael Nmecha; Awa Kalu Awa; Abuja Uche Imo; Aso Oburu; Roland Onwuka; Nmong Agwu; Awa Nna Lord; Uma Okereke and Biggie."

IPOB further alleged that "Orji Uzor Kalu and some of his APC members are agents paid to maim and destroy our people especially the IPOB family members in Abia North.

“For colluding with murderous military to illegally arrest and kill our people, we are declaring Alhaji Orji Uzor Kalu and the above listed traitors as persona non grata in the Eastern Region.

 

"Anywhere they are seen should be treated as enemies. They are Fulanis in Igbo's skin. Anywhere Orji Uzor is seen doing campaign rally in Biafraland he should be brought to justice. Orji Uzor Kalu should not be allowed to have any political rallies in our territory any longer because he is murdering our people expecially the youths in Ohafia Abia State and he will be held to account for their death," IPOB stated.