The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BZF

  • Biafra Zionists leader arraigned, remanded in prison

    The leader of the Biafra Zionists Federation, (BZF), Benjamin Onwuka has been remanded in prison in custody.

    Onwuka, who was arrested in August after an encounter with security operatives, has been incommunicado ever since.

    However, the Deputy leader of the group, Mazi Ambrose Ugwu, told journalists in Enugu Thursday that Onwuka has been docked at the Federal High Court, Owerri by the Department of State Services, DSS.

    “I can confirm to you that our leader has finally been arraigned in court by the DSS.

    “After keeping him away from us and other members of the public for over three months, they arraigned him at the Federal High Court, Owerri. The trial judge remanded him in prison on the premise that he may jump bail,” Ugwu said.

    While describing the latest development as unacceptable, he called on the Federal Government to order for the immediate release of their leader.

    “Our demand has not changed. The Biafra leader, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka has not done anything to warrant his being incarcerated. This is not but oppression and suppression of our rights to freedom as guaranteed under the Nigeria Constitution and other international treaties.

    “He should be immediately release unconditionally because they have done more damage to his rights already by keeping him incommunicado for over three months.

    “The DSS has no right to have kept him for such long a time without charging him to court. Now, that he has been arraigned, the claim of his jumping bail should not even arise at all.

    “We call on Muhammadu Buhari’s government to free our leader immediately without any condition attached,” the group demanded.

  • Pro-Biafra group seek release of arrested leader’s ‘corpse’

    Members of the Biafra Zionists Federation ( BZF) have made claims that its leader, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka is dead.

    Onwuka was arrested alongside his members on Monday August 20 as they attempted to enter the Enugu Government House for the purpose of inauguration of Biafra.

    However, while his followers were freed same evening, Onwuka has not been heard of ever since.

    In a press statement on Friday, the Deputy Leader of the group, Mazi Ambrose Ugwu said every effort they had made to ascertain the whereabouts of their leader had been unfruitful.

    Ugwu alleged : “From all indications, our leader, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka has been killed by security forces.

    “We have been at the DSS Enugu office for several times but they are silent on the matter. The very first day others were released, they even told us that Onwuka too was released. But it turned out to be a hoax.

    “For the past four days, we have gone there to at least give him food, but they refused us entry. So, based on the above situations, we have no further doubt that he has been killed.

    “We are now urging the International Community, especially the United States and Israel to prevail on the Nigerian Government to release his corpse to us for a decent burial. He deserves to be accorded such burial in the light of his struggle for the people.

    “The Buhari’s Government should direct whoever is holding the corpse to release it to the Zionists’ family to enable us pay our last respect to him.

    “However, we must also decry a situation where the Nigerian Security Forces are turning their arms against harmless freedom fighters whereas armed herdsmen are walking the streets unhindered. Nobody has ever seen any Zionist with a matchet, let alone a gun.

    “It is, therefore, the apex of oppression that we are being subjected to this level of intimidation because we are asking for freedom, which we are doing in line with all international laws and conventions.”

    “No form of intimidation will, however, make us to to drop our right for self-determination. We can’t be forced to remain in a country where there is no justice and equity.

    “The disparity in handling killer herdsmen and Biafra agitators is a case in point. While the former is receiving kingly treatment, despite killing thousands of Nigerians, the latter are being subjected to all manner of torture for being civil in their approach,” he further lamented.

  • ‘Pan-Biafran group’s leader wanted’

    The Enugu State Police Command yesterday declared the leader of the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), Ben Onwuka, wanted for “treasonable felony”.

    This is happening almost three weeks after the group invaded the Government House to hoist the Biafran flag.

    Police Commissioner Mohammed Adamu had accused the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) of carrying out the attack.

    Onwuka was detained with over 500 members of his group after re-declaring the Republic of Biafra in Enugu on November 5, 2012.

    They were granted bail on December 11 of the same year.

     

  • Police declare pan-Biafran group’s leader wanted

    The Enugu State Police Command yesterday declared the leader of the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), Ben Onwuka, wanted for “treasonable felony”.

    This is happening almost three weeks after maembers of the group invaded the Enugu State Government House to hoist the Biafran flag.

    Although Police Commissioner Mohammed Adamu initially accused members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) of carrying out the attack, Onwuka and his members later owned up.

    He was detained with over 500 members of his group after re-declaring the Republic of Biafra in Enugu on November 5, 2012. They were granted bail on December 11 of the same year.