Tag: Biafra Day celebration

  • Anambra Election: Panic as militants back Nnamdi Kanu on boycott 

    Anambra Election: Panic as militants back Nnamdi Kanu on boycott 

    Some  Niger Delta militant groups have declared their support for the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),  Nnamdi Kanu over his decision to boycott  the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

    The groups, Concerned Militant Leaders (CML), Niger Delta People Democratic Front (NDPDF) and Rainbow Marabas Squad (RMS) said they are unhappy over the May 30, 2016, when soldiers allegedly massacred harmless and innocent IPOB members.

    Leaders of the groups, General Ben (CML), General Playboy (NDPDF) and General Aneaja (RMS),  in a statement issued via online after their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,  demanded for justice for the victims of the May 30, 2016,  Biafra Day celebration killings.

    Convener of the meeting, General Ben, stated: “Federal Government should address the injustice meted out to innocent and harmless IPOB members, while celebrating Biafra Day.  The election in Anambra State should not hold and will not hold.  That injustice must first be addressed before any election will take place.

    “Southern political leaders, who are romancing with Federal Government to truncate and jeopardize Biafra struggle because of the selfish aggrandizement, will live to regret their actions because, we will not forget them.

    “Any attempt by Federal Government to take us for granted, should be resisted.  We advise Anambrarians to boycott that election.  Any person that flouts our order does that at his or her peril.  Nobody is our target, but don’t make yourself our target”, the groups warned.

    Reacting to the recent quit notice to the Igbo people living in the North by Arewa youths, and the similar ultimatum by their colleagues (militants) to the Northerners in the Niger Delta, the groups said they did not see it as a threat.

    According to them, it was an opportunity for the Southerners to realise and address their agitations properly with zeal and commitment.

    They advised Southerners, particularly Igbo people, living in the North, not to be carried away by whatever assurances they might have received from any quarters concerning their safety, insisting that they should heed to the order.

    Ben stated: “We do not see it as a threat, but a welcome development. It should not generate disaffection.  But should be accepted with commendation because it would give the agitators opportunity to champion their course with the necessary zeal it requires.

    “In essence, the deadline should stand, both for the South Easterners in the North, and the Northerners in the Niger Delta region and South East. And our people should return home.  Every Southern is our brother or sister, whether from East, West or South.”

  • Marking `Biafra day’ paralyses Onitsha

    Marking `Biafra day’ paralyses Onitsha

    The 17th anniversary celebration to mark the call for the republic of Biafra paralysed social and economic activities in Onitsha, Anambra on Monday.

    Members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State Biafra (MASSOB) – Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) occupied major streets of Onitsha hoisting `Biafra’ flags.

    Some members who came from Nnewi, Awkuzu, Ogidi, Nkpor and Aguleri were seen moving on foot, in cars, tricycles and motorcycles which greatly slowed down vehicle and human traffic.

    Addressing the members, the Anambra North Zonal leader of MASSOB-BIM, Mr Vincent Iloh, reiterated the resolve of the group to sustain the agitation through peaceful means.

    “It is exactly 17 years today; what we in MASSOB-BIM are still saying through non-violence is for Biafrans to be granted independence from Nigeria.

    “That was what our great hero and the Peoples General, late Dim Chukwuemeka  Odumegwu Ojukwu tried to do in 1967 but was misunderstood.

    “This is what the new Biafran leader Chief Ralp Uwazurike has continued to say since 1999 without the use of force.

    “Until the needful is done, we will not relent.

    “We want Biafra because the resources of our land have been confiscated with military might to develop other areas while we are left to wallow in a state of despair,” Iloh said.

    The army, police, navy and civil defence were on the ground during the rally which lasted for several hours to forestall any breach of peace.

  • Biafra day celebration: Police arrest 12 agitators in Rivers.

    Biafra day celebration: Police arrest 12 agitators in Rivers.

    Men of Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), of the Rivers state Police command on Monday disrupted the peaceful match by members of Ralph Uwazurike-led Movement For the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOP), at
    Obigbo, in Obigbo Local Government Area of the state.

    The Biafra agitators numbering over 200 were on a peacefulmatch along the streets of the LGA to mark their annual “Biafra Day”, when the men in five truckload double crossed them and ordered them to stop.

    After brief explanations by the agitators and some phonecalls by the leader of the team, their banners, some members Identity cards andapron, especially
    those marked “Biafra Red Cross” were removed from their owners (body and necks), and taken away by the Police.

    Twelve of the members were also arrested, including the middle aged woman, and six members of the band
    (music), group who were playingband for them as they matched and danced. All the musical instruments were
    alsoseized.

    The agitators who did not struggle with the Police during the arrest expressed surprise that the Police could interfere with their peaceful exercise, which did not in any way affect traffic in the area. The leadership of the group said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Obigbo Police station knew about the match. They expressed concern that they did not know where their members were taken to.

    They called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase to direct his men to release their members and return all their properties seized as soon as possible, insisting that MASSOB is a non-violent Movement that preaches peace. Reacting shortly after the incident, the Zonal Administrator, Rivers South, Sunday Kalu Amuzie said, “Today is a very big day to all Biafrans around the World, we are marking the anniversary of the Independence of Biafra. It is being celebrated across the globe.

    “But our activity today was somehow disrupted by Men of the Nigerian Police who interfered in our peaceful street
    match program and arrested 12 of our members including a woman and members of our band. The arresting Police officers also made away with our banners, members Identity cards,
    apronsand band instrument, but we neither struggled with them nor reacted to their action.”

    Asked if he knew about the subsisting ban on all forms ofstreet match by the state government, said: “We were not informed, moreover, we were on a peaceful street match pass, to create awareness of the Biafra Day celebration, June 30, every year and not to make or
    create any troubles.”

    Also asked if the state Commissioner of
    Police was aware ofthe exercise, said, admitted that he was not informed but that the DPO Obigbo Police station was
    somehow informed, since it was a non-violent exercise. The group’s state Director, information and publicity, Anukem Anthony recalled that Biafra Day celebration was revived 17 years ago by their Leader, Uwazurike, and has since them been celebrated without any hitch on this date (June 30).

    He condemned the arrest of their members by the police, and called for the IG’s quick intervention. The Spokesman of the state police command Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police was unable to react to the incident as at press time. He said that he was yet to be briefed.

  • Biafra Day celebration: Police arraign 62 in Imo

    Biafra Day celebration: Police arraign 62 in Imo

    The police in Imo State have arrested 68 members of the pan-ethnic militia group, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) for alleged breach of public peace during the Biafra Day celebration in Owerri.

    Thousands of MASSOB members converged at the home of the leader of the group, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike to mark this year’s Biafra Day.

    Police spokesman Austine Evbakhavbokun said 68 members were arrested and 62 have been charged for disrupting public peace and being in possession of Biafra insignias, including flags, identity cards and military camouflage.

    He warned that the Police will not watch while members of an outlawed group undermine the nation’s sovereignty.

    “We cannot have two flags in one nation. Nigeria is a sovereign nation and the sovereignty will be jealously guided.

    “On Saturday, MASSOB members disrupted public peace in Owerri in the name of celebrating Biafra Day. We will not allow the existence of any illegal group and henceforth we are going to descend on them massively,” Evbakhavbokun said.

    The arrested members include: Sunday Chigbo, Ebere Basil, Nchita Boniface, Okeke Francis Kelechi, Martin Ozodikere, John Nkemjeme and Chijioke Nhuegwu.

    Others are Charles Chukwunedom, Emeka Obi, Chukwudi Otukegwu, Goddey Igbokwe, Ngobidi Livinus and Emmanuel Ugwuekemba, among others.