December 23, 2016 Press Statement We Salute Brave Biafrans For Chasing Away Muhammadụ Buhari From Biafraland

December 23, 2016 Press Statement We Salute Brave Biafrans For Chasing Away Muhammadụ Buhari From Biafraland

 December 23, 2016 Press Statement We Salute Brave Biafrans For Chasing Away Muhammadụ Buhari From Biafraland

The leadership of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) salute brave Biafrans who despite all odds chased away Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari from Enugu-Biafraland.

We would like to remind all humanity that Muhammadu Buhari committed treason on December 31, 1983, when he overthrew the democratically elected government of President Alhaji Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari. In addition to his involvement in the assassination of Major General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi and the mass-murder of over two million Biafrans at Owerri in 1968, Buhari has continually ordered the killing of Biafrans since he was awarded the presidency of Nigeria in 2015.

It was against this backdrop that Biafrans determined that Buhari is not welcome in Biafraland. Biafrans from all walks of life converged at Enugu to lay down their lives had Buhari come to Enugu with his gun-totting murderous security operatives. Understandably, Buhari heeded our warning and stayed back in Abuja. We salute the courage and determination of Biafrans despite threats, a few days earlier, from Buhari’s killer-squads and some internal enemies from Biafraland.

The event of December 22nd, 2016 has once more demonstrated the fact that Biafrans are under one central command of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB. It has also shown that Biafrans are disciplined and non-violent in their approach to self-determination because no single incident was recorded. As Biafrans were not attacked at the event by the murderous Nigerian security operatives, the entire world can see that there were peace and tranquility at Enugu and elsewhere in Biafraland. The question now becomes, why did Buhari order the Nigerian Army to attack and murder defenceless and law-abiding Biafrans at Aba, Nkpor, Igweocha (PortHarcourt) and Onitsha?

Why would Buhari always resort to brute force in responding to people exercising their fundamental human rights? Is it because of his lack of formal secondary and tertiary education and non-existent leadership training? The entire world must know that Muhammadu Buhari stayed away from Biafraland for fear of incurring the wrath of angry Biafrans who were ready to die with him if he had dared to step his feet in Biafraland. Any other concocted story on why Buhari cowardly stayed away is a figment of the imagination of those telling such stories. Already we are aware of certain politicians from Biafraland who stole their state blind and are supposed to be cooling their heels in EFCC gulag but are temporarily left off the hook because of the spoiler role and anti-Biafra propagandist activities they volunteered to undertake.

These politicians are now advancing reasons why Buhari cowardly stayed away from Biafraland, but we know they are lying. Given the bare-faced lies from these politicians, we wish to warn that misrepresentation of facts and outright lies is something IPOB is not comfortable with. Any politician or persons wishing to be regarded as serious intermediary in the quest to emancipate our people must be truthful at all times. Any attempt to spin information or play to the gallery will be met with instant repudiation and termination of that person's involvement in the affairs of IPOB.

Our leader is an uncompromising straight forward Biafran first and foremost. Any attempt to misrepresent his views or that of IPOB will be resisted. IPOB has created the enabling environment for politicians of different persuasions willing to repent from their old criminal past all across Biafraland to work together to salvage what is left of their tattered reputation. Muhammadu Buhari must understand that the quest for the restoration of the nation of Biafra is unquenchable, unstoppable, and irreversible. We advise Buhari to toe the path of peace to engender a conducive environment that will restore the confidence of investors who are leaving Nigeria in droves on a daily basis since he became the ruler of the country.

To achieve this, we demand as follows: 1) Buhari must release the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, along with other Biafran detainees. Other political detainees including Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky and Sambo Dasuki must also be released.

2) Buhari must announce a date for Biafrexit Referendum, and 3) Buhari must convene a public enquiry into the massacre of IPOB family members as documented by Amnesty International. Without the above palliatives, restoring normalcy to Nigeria remains a pipe dream. We are bold to state that Nigeria is heading irreversibly in the direction of dismemberment which will be to the benefit of the three distinct nations of Arewa, Oduduwa, and Biafra that make up the country called Nigeria.

 It is an undeniable fact that when the history of restructuring or disintegration is written about Nigeria, only three names will stand out namely; Radio Biafra, IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu. Once more, we salute the uncommon courage exhibited by IPOB in chasing Muhammadu Buhari away from Biafraland. IPOB is stating emphatically that should BUHARI decide to come to Biafraland anytime in the future, we shall be waiting to die with him.

Signed Barrister Emma Nmezu,

 Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya Spokespersons for IPOB

          To all Yoruba commentators supporting secret trial of                               Nnamdi Kanu. 

     Stop your infantile digression and address this simple                                      question.

Was Chief Obafemi Awolowo's treason trial, mind you not treasonable felony, conducted in public or secret? Another question you must answer is this, was the then Action Group and today's IPOB the same? Which of the two do you consider more dangerous, in view how the former spread anarchy through major Yoruba towns at the time? I put these questions to you in the hope that you are a student of history.
Some of you Yoruba e-rats foolishly forget that there is a discipline called history. It records major events of our lives and preserves such for posterity. Awolowo was charged, tried in the open and convicted of the more serious charge of treason which is a capital offence. He was dumped in Calabar prison until Ojukwu released him. Yes Ojukwu an Igbo man and leader of Biafra granted pardon to Awolowo and released him to Yoruba people. It wasn't Hausa Fulani North that released Awolowo, it was a Biafran.
These are verifiable historical facts cleverly hidden by the hegemonic Yoruba gutter media, hence all of you e-rats continue to wallow in stupefying ignorance till date. This is IPOB! We deconstruct our enemies with facts and figures that is why Nnamdi Kanu's court case is a blessed opportunity for we Biafrans to lay bare before the world and human conscience everything wrong with the Zoo and why it should not be one. Some of you Yoruba internet rats in support of secret trial must know that the godfather of Yoruba politics Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a convicted felon and that is a tag Nnamdi Kanu can never be associated with. If Awolowo that committed treason was tried in the public with full media attendance, how much more Kanu answering to the lesser charge of treasonable felony. This is why white people assert with some degree of accuracy that black people cannot reason. This hypocritical attitude of some of you social commentators is indicative of the underlying pathological hatred you people have towards Igbos, which is largely driven by envy.

My question to Yoruba media practitioners is this, would you have supported a secret trial for your Chief Obafemi Awolowo? Within your predictable answer lies the reason why Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters don't want anything to do with Nigeria. You are vindictive, spiteful race of envious cowards. Then why are you in support of secret trial for Kanu. Do you now see how terrible you Yoruba people are as human beings? No wonder Hausa Fulani took Kwara State from you cowards. May Chukwu Okike Abiama have mercy on you.

The Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) have sent out a severe warning to President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement released by one of its spokesman, IPOB said President Buhari must stay away from regions now tagged “Biafraland:”.

According to the statement, Buhari must stay away, lets he taste of the wine of the Biafrans’ wrath, for unjust things done to pro-Biafrans across the country.

Below is the statement issued on Monday, December 19, signed by Barrister Emma Nmezu and Dr Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, spokespersons for the IPOB.

The statement reads: “MUHAMMADU BUHARI MUST STAY CLEAR OF BIAFRALAND OR HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME FOR THE OUTCOME OF ANY SUCH VISIT”

“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have received information that Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari who committed treason on December 31, 1983, and was rewarded with Nigeria’s presidency after 32 years, will be visiting Enugu-Biafraland on the 22nd of December, 2016.

We assert that inviting a killer aznd persecutor of Biafrans to our land is an insult to the memory of those killed by Muhammadu Buhari.

Therefore, we object totally to this visit by the killer of Biafrans. We recall that Buhari started his killing of Biafrans with the assassination of Major General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi on July 29, 1966.

He followed up with the mass-murder of over two million Biafrans in 1968 at Owerri during the war of genocide on Biafra by Nigeria and Britain. From June 17, 2015, till date, Buhari has killed over two thousand unarmed and peaceful Biafrans.

We warn any governor or Igbo politician that receives Buhari in Enugu will have himself or herself to blame.
We make it public that should there be a breakdown of law and order in Enugu on the 22nd of December, greedy Igbo politicians will have themselves to blame.

Any Igbo governor or politician that is found among those hobnobbing with Buhari the killer of Biafrans becomes an enemy of the people and shall pay dearly for it.

Until all those detained are released, and Amnesty International report investigated, Buhari is not allowed into any part of Biafraland. Let Buhari know that if he (Buhari) comes to Enugu or any part of Biafraland, we will die with him there.

We are calling on all Biafrans to descend on Enugu on the said date of 22 December 2016 to show our anger and displeasure at this attempt by some greedy Igbo men to insult the memory of our glorious dead and those still in detention with our leader.

Should Buhari attempt to set foot on Enugu soil everybody involved, from Bart Nnaji to Governor Ugwuanyi will regret it.

These criminal Igbo politicians without any iota of shame must know that Buhari is the Grand Patron of the terrorist Fulani Herdsmen that have been rampaging and killing our people in Enugu and other parts of Biafraland in the name of Islam.

Buhari is the person behind the rise of the terrorist Fulani Herdsmen and must be made to know that we Biafrans are not in support of sponsors of terrorism. We are the children of the Most High God and do not associate with mass murderers like Buhari.

Therefore we don’t want him anywhere around our sacred land.

Any Governor or Igbo politician who is stupid enough to invite Buhari into our capital will be taught a lesson that will reverberate in history. They should try us and see.
A word is enough for the wise!”

      Biafra: unlawful Detention Of Nnamdi Kanu, EU MEPS            Writes A Powerful Letter To HR/VP MOGHERINI –                          MaynaijaNews. MUST READ!

   JOINT LETTER FROM MEPS TO HR/VP MOGHERINI

Ms Federica Mogherini

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

European External Action Service

1046 Brussels

Belgium

19th December 2016

Dear Ms Mogherini,

We write in regards to the unlawful detention of Nwannekaenyi “Nnamdi” Kenny Okwu Kanu, a dual British-Nigerian citizen and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the continued violence towards IPOB supporters as perpetrated by the Nigerian Government.

Since 14th October 2015, Kanu has been illegally imprisoned by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, despite being acquitted of all charges brought against him.

The authorities accused Kanu and his two co-defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, of trying to overthrow the Nigerian head of state by broadcasting secessionist propaganda on the underground media outlet Radio Biafra, which campaigns for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria. Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi deny all charges brought against them.

On 19th October in Abuja, the Chief Magistrate, Honourable Shuaibu, discharged Kanu of all criminal charges including the allegation of managing and belonging to an unlawful society, criminal intimidation and of criminal conspiracy. Shuaibu granted Kanu bail, of which all the conditions were met, but the Department of State Services refused to release him.

The charges of criminal conspiracy, engaging in unlawful society and criminal intimidation were then withdrawn on 16th December 2015, but still Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi have not been released.

On 17th December 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered the unconditional release of Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Security Services, but this was not enacted.

Kanu’s counsel have since appealed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to help ensure his safe release, but to no avail. A court case on 5th October 2016 was later adjourned to 8th November, which has now been amended to 9th February 2017, due to the Nigeria Department of State Services failure to bring Kanu to court. The Federal Government of Nigeria had previously warned the ECOWAS community court sitting in Abuja not to intervene in Kanu’s continued detention and trial.

It is clear that the fundamental human rights of Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi are being grossly violated. Human Rights Watch have reported of the violation of the defendants’ rights, including their right to a fair trial[1].

What is more, the Nigerian Government is also reportedly violating the human rights of Biafran activists. Scores of Biafrans are in detention for attempting to hold or participate in peaceful assemblies. On several occasions, security forces have used excessive force against pro-Biafran activists who have planned or attended peaceful protest marches[2]. Amnesty International has documented cases of arrest, enforced disappearance, torture and often killing of supporters and members of various pro-Biafran groups in the region[3]. Since August 2015, they estimate at least 150 Biafrans have been killed by Nigerian security forces. However, as no official investigations have been carried out, this figure is believed to be much higher[4].

The right to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the right of freedom of expression, is protected by the Nigerian constitution. International human rights standards also require that law enforcement officials must, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means. It is clear that the Nigerian authorities are not operating with respect to the Nigerian constitution or the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

On behalf of the European Union, especially in respect to the EU-Nigeria partnership, the Nigeria EU Joint Way Forward, the developments of the 6th Nigeria-EU ministerial dialogue and the fact that Nigeria is a recipient of EU aid, we call upon you to:

Advocate for the immediate and safe release of Nnamdi Kanu and co-defendants Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
Challenge the actions of the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Nigerian Department of State Services in regards to the detention of Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi.
Call for an impartial investigation into the arrest, enforced disappearance, torture and killing of supporters and members of various pro-Biafran groups.
Denounce the unacceptable violence against Biafran supporters by Nigerian security forces.
Do more to push the Nigerian government to safeguard human rights in Nigeria by calling for guarantees on the freedom of expression of all Nigerian citizens, including their right to protest without harm, and the termination of violence towards Biafrans.
We look forward to your positive response.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Ward MEP

Ana Gomes MEP

Bart Staes MEP

Beatriz Becerra MEP

Brando Benifei MEP

Catherine Stihler MEP

Ernest Urtasun MEP

Eva Joly MEP

Hilde Vautmans MEP

Jude Kirton-Darling MEP

Kati Piri MEP

Miapetra Kumpula-Natri MEP

Michèle Rivasi MEP

Nessa Childers MEP

Pascal Durand MEP

Philippe Lamberts MEP

                (NNAMDI KANU HAS MADE BIAFRA

                   POPULAR-ASARI DOKUBO)

Former Ijaw youth council president and founder of the defunct Niger Delta people's Volunteer force (NDPVF), chief Mujahid Asari Dokubo, has said that the Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has made the agitation for the creation of Biafra Republic popular in the world. ] Mr Dokubo made this statement during an interview with 'The Biafra Herald,' where he called on Igbo Elders to put hand together to make sure Mr. Kanu regains freedom so as to allow him continue his work for the restoration of Biafra Republic.

According to him "The Indigenous people of Biafra have shown strength and resoluteness in the Biafra guest, There is nobody whether you like it or not, who has popularised the freedom of Biafra people more than the indigenous people of Biafra under Nnamdi Kanu, let us tell ourselves the truth. It is in our collective interest that Nnamdi Kanu comes out of that dungeon they call prison. Nnamdi Kanu should be freed and allowed to continue working towards the restoration of Biafra, because he has done nothing wrong.

It is never a crime to call for self-Determination, thus he should be freed. Biafrans have to put away their differences and make sure he comes out, When I Asari Dokubo was in detention, Biafrans came together to bring me out. Nnamdi Kanu has done tremendously well and has shown resoluteness in the Biafra struggle. So ought to give credit to who it is due. We might have disagreement with him, but it is not important.

Our goal is our independence and the good of our people. Those we call Hausa's are not all Hausa's, as they comprise of Fulani and even Niger, yet they come together to fight against Biafrans despite their differences. Why then, won't we Biafrans do some for our Brother Nnamdi Kanu? Every true Biafran should endeavour to make sure that he is releases from detention because this darkness called Nigeria will not grant him Justice.

Top of Form

                          Family Writers

    There are misconceptions: lies some Nigerians seem to feel good telling themselves; that some not-well-informed persons hold against Biafra and the agitation for the restoration of Biafra. In this post, I will talk about two of them. They are:

1. Nnamdi Kanu began agitating for Biafra because ex-president Goodluck Ebere Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election.

2. Secession or creation of Biafra was the cause of the Biafran-Nigerian war.

As a matter of fact, Biafra agitation didn't begin after the 2015 presidential election or because Goodluck Ebere Jonathan lost that election. Since the end of the genocidal Biafra-Nigeria war in 1970, the desire to restore our nation has always been in our hearts.

Since that war, Nigeria had been a military dictatorship until 1999. Sometime around the year 2000, that's some months after Nigeria moved from military dictatorship to “democracy”, a movement for the restoration of Biafra began and was led, then, by Ralph Uwazurike with the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). The movement gradually lost its vigour when Ralph dabbled into Nigerian politics, and other Pro-Biafra groups sprung up with time eventually. By the year 2012, a brilliant and charismatic Biafran Nnamdi Kanu had started a re-energized campaign for Biafra restoration through the Radio Biafra London platform; and IPOB (Indigenous People Of Biafra) is a unified front and identity for all Biafrans. The then President Of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, ignored Nnamdi Kanu and many Biafrans knew little about him and the Radio Biafra London. Just before the 2015 Presidential election, Nnamdi Kanu, via the Radio Biafra London, advised all Biafrans to boycott all the elections and that all Nigerian politicians, no matter their ethnicity, were untrustworthy. So, Nnamdi Kanu was never sympathetic to Goodluck Jonathan.

Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the president of Nigeria on 29th May 2015. By July 14th 2015, barely two months after he became the President, Buhari made the National Broadcasting Commission to jam the radio signals of Radio Biafra London but wasn't successful as the radio station continued to broadcast on both radio and the internet. So began the unwitting popularization of Biafra by Buhari's tyranny. By August 30th 2015, Nigerian security forces, on the orders of president Buhari, began killing and abducting Biafran activists. Instead of being scared away, more Biafrans joined in the agitation.

The 1967-1970 genocide didn't stop Biafra and the tyranny of a dim-witted, tinnitus-inflicted murder-in-chief cannot stop it.

Any suggestion by any so-called commentator that Nnamdi Kanu should have waited until recently to prey on Biafrans' emotions on current Fulani-herdsmen attacks and other state-sponsored killings is obviously dubious and lacks empathy.

When a Nigerian says "one Nigeria", they don't mean “unity” or “love”. They mean the conquest of Biafraland. The Nigerian federal military government used it in its wartime propaganda and its soldiers knew their rewards were oil exploration blocks in a conquered Biafra land.

To the Fulani oligarchs, “one Nigeria” means the expansion and sustenance of the Fulani empire. This was really the cause of Biafran war. Not "secession". It started as ethnic cleansing of the people of Biafra living in other parts of Nigeria, outside Biafraland, and turned into a genocidal war when Biafrans resisted it by deciding to stay away as an independent nation from Nigeria.

Ojukwu didn't attack Nigeria. All he wanted was a place his people will be safe; and our homeland was that safe place. Biafrans were forced into that war to defend themselves from extermination when Northern Nigerian soldiers invaded this homeland.

Nnamdi Kanu Secret Trial: International Bodies, Others To 

Storm Abuja Court On Jan 10

Report filtering into our news room has it that human rights organisations, international medias and foreign observers will all be present to monitor the court proceedings of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra which is reportedly slated on January 10th, 2017 in Federal High Court, Abuja.

Oriental Times recalls that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had on December 13th upheld federal government's request for the protection of witnesses that would be testifying against the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

However, the trial was adjourned to 8th, 9th and 10th of January respectively.

IPOB condemns advocates of secret trial for Kanu

Leadership of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has condemned, in strong terms, those advocating that their leader, Nnamdi Kanu should under secret trial as ruled by Justice Binta Nyako.

Condemning especially some Yorubas who have been using the social media to say that it was meet that Kanu should be tried in camera, IPOB asks if they would have supported a secret trial for the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

A statement signed by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, in condemning those supporting secret trial for Nnamdi Kanu to learn from history and stop supporting evil.

Here is the full statement of the organisation.

“The indigenous people of Biafra IPOB worldwide and it’s leadership condemn those Nigerians supporting secret trial for mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.

“To all Yoruba and other Nigerian commentators supporting secret trial of Nnamdi Kanu. Stop your infantile digression and address this simple question.

“Was Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s treason trial, mind you not treasonable felony, conducted in public or secret? Another question you must answer is this, was the then Action Group and today’s IPOB the same? Which of the two do you consider more dangerous, in view how the former spread anarchy through major Yoruba towns at the time? I put these questions to you in the hope that you are a student of history.

“Some of you e-rats who forget that there is a discipline called history. It records major events of our lives and preserves such for posterity.

“Chief Obafemi Awolowo was charged, tried in the open and convicted of the more serious charge of treason which is a capital offence. He was dumped in Calabar prison until Ojukwu released him.

“Yes Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu an Igbo man and leader of Biafra granted pardon to Awolowo and released him to Yoruba people. It wasn’t Hausa Fulani North that released Chief Awolowo, it was a Biafran.

“These are verifiable historical facts cleverly hidden by the hegemonic forgot to tell since the release of chief Awolowo, hence all of you e-rats continue to wallow in stupefying ignorance till date.

“This is IPOB! We deconstruct our enemies with facts and figures that is why Nnamdi Kanu’s court case is a blessed opportunity for we Biafrans to lay bare before the world and human conscience everything wrong with the contraption called Nigeria and why it should not be one.

“Some of you who are internet rats in support of secret trial must know that the godfather of Yoruba politics Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a convicted felon and that is a tag Nnamdi Kanu can never be associated with.

“If Chief Awolowo that committed treason was tried in the public with full media attendance, how much more Nnamdi Kanu answering to the lesser charge of treasonable felony.

“This is why white people assert with some degree of accuracy that black people cannot reason. This hypocritical attitude of some of you social commentators is indicative of the underlying pathological hatred you people have towards Igbos, which is largely driven by envy.

“Our question to those who claim to be social media practitioners is this, would you have supported a secret trial for your Chief Obafemi Awolowo?

“Within your predictable answer lies the reason why Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters don’t want anything to do with Nigeria.

“You are vindictive, spiteful race of envious and cowards you are. Then why are you in support of secret trial for Kanu? Do you now see how terrible you saboteurs are as human beings? No wonder Hausa Fulani took Kwara State nobody say anything. May Chukwu Okike Abiama have mercy on you,” the organisation declares.

Tension: IPOB Set To Adopt 

New Method For Protection 

Against Killings (MUST 

READ)

IPOB Set To Adopt New Method For Protection Against Killings

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said it would not hesitate to invoke the right to self-defence should security agents attempt to kill any of their members during peaceful protests.

The group said Biafrans were naturally law abiding and peaceful people without the history of conquest like any other major ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

A statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful said it adopted non-violent approach which is one of the stipulated and laid down rules of the United Nations.

It said IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu would at all times, abide by the principle unless provoked.

It noted that the mission of IPOB was to get Biafra, regardless of the human and material cost. He said there would be no talk of negotiation until its leader, Kanu and other members detained illegally were released unconditionally as two courts of competent jurisdiction have ruled in Abuja.

The statement read: “We are highly committed to making sure Biafra comes under the command of our ordained leader and prophet, Nnamdi Kanu.

“Freedom fighting is not a child’s play. If one is not mentally and spiritually strong or has the toughness to stay on course, that person is advised to stay away. We are hitting the target and we want to restore Biafra to stop the suffering of this generation and those unborn.

“The mission of IPOB is to get Biafra regardless of the human and material cost. We want a nation where our people will be unshackled from the chains of slavery.

“The work to restore Biafra is a call from God Almighty and no man can stop the agitation unless Biafra is restored.

“What we are doing is voluntary work knowing well that we are fighting for our survival and that of our children unborn.

“Nevertheless, as long as we are genuinely and wholeheartedly fighting for the freedom of our people, we must have some challenges; our leader is making his own sacrifices for the sake of 70 million Biafrans worldwide. We, the followers of his gospel of restoration of Biafra must make our own challenges in one way or the other in order for Biafra to come.

“Many have made the supreme sacrifice at Igweocha, River State, Aba in Abia State, Nkpor and Onitsha in Anambra State for which Biafra and posterity will never forget.

“We shall honour all those that fell on this long and painful march to freedom.

“IPOB, with its calculated peaceful approach has earned world recognition. European Union, other international bodies and recognised institutions in the world have taken time to study IPOB’s grievances.” 

The Biafra Civil War from 1967-1970 resulted when the small West African region – primarily populated by the Igbo tribe – attempted to secede from Nigeria, a former British colony. An estimated 1-2 million people were killed in the conflict; 40% were Igbo children who died of starvation and malnutrition. The Igbo thought the global community would support them, but they gained little assistance, whereas Nigeria was massively armed by the British and Russians. Biafra was invaded and the Igbo were eventually subdued.

How are the Igbo doing today? Have they survived economically? Are they participating in Nigerian political affairs? Have enmities been forgiven?

To find out, I interviewed Kelechi Anyanwu (pen name Kelechi Deca) an Igbo journalist with special focus on Africa’s development, and accreditations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group, African Development Bank Group and African Union. A graduate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, he has worked extensively on the history, culture, and traditions of the Igbo people.

Can you tell me how your own family, friends, and village or city was involved with the war?

I am from Ezinihitte Mbaise, Local Government area of Imo State, my family lost two members during the war. One was conscripted as a soldier at the age of 21; the other was a lady who died as a result of shrapnel from shelling by the Nigerian artillery. I have not heard of a family that came out of the war fully intact without losing one or two members. The famine as a result of the food blockade affected my family too, three young people suffered from Kwashiokor, one never recovered fully - she developed mental problems after the war as a result of the after effects.

What were the main reasons for Biafra’s attempt at secession in 1967-1970?

Igbo people believed that their continued existence in Nigeria was threatened - that their lives and property were not protected, as exemplified by killings of Igbo people in other parts of Nigeria while the government did nothing. Igbo people lost trust in Nigeria, and the sincerity of Nigeria to protect them and other ethnicities in the Eastern Region of Nigeria. Also, the people of the Eastern Region felt that the resources being used to run Nigeria was majorly oil from their region, with other regions not contributing enough to the commonwealth.

Are the Igbo still angry at nations that helped Nigeria, like Britain, Russia, Egypt, the USA?

I wouldn’t say they are still angry but they have not stopped asking questions as to why the whole world seems to have conspired to obliterate the Igbo from the face of the earth. For example the Biafra War was in the thick of the Cold War, yet Britain worked seamlessly with Russia with the connivance of the United States government to destroy a relatively unarmed people whose only sin was that they tried to defend themselves against a blood-thirsty aggressor. The feeling among the Igbo was that the world conspired to stop the birth of a nation that was set to challenge the evils of colonialism and liberate the African continent. This also refers to the sitting-on-the-fence approach that France adopted. Igbo people believe that if France gave them full support, instead of piecemeal support, they would have won.

Do the Igbo have affection for the nations that recognized or helped them? Tanzania, Gabon? Cote d’Ivoire? Haiti?

Extremely. The majority of Igbo still see those countries as friendly nations. During the Haiti Earthquake, Igbo people felt very concerned. Many of the relief campaigns carried out for that cause were promoted by Igbo people. Aside from seeing Haiti as their kith and Kin, they see them as kindred nation. Gabon is like a second home to the Igbo, same affection is extended to Cote d’Ivoire and Tanzania.

I just read the novel Half a Yellow Sun - by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Is it a popular book in Igbo-Land?

It is a very popular book, but there are hundreds of other books about Biafra that have been written, what made Half of a Yellow Sun so popular was that it was published at a time when there is massive resurgence of pro-Biafran consciousness.

Is there freedom of speech to talk about the Biafra War today?

Yes, there is, especially among the young. Most of whom were not even born at the time. But it has not always been so; 20 to 30 years ago no one dared mention the name Biafra. All that has changed. There are various online groups, talk shows, lectures, and books on Biafra, even a guerrilla radio, called Radio Biafra.

Have opposing sides forgiven each other? Is there still tension between Igbo and Hausa (a Northern Nigerian tribe)? Between Igbo and other groups?

Biafra is like a scar on the palm. Other ethnic nationalities prefer it is just forgotten, but the Igbo still feel the pain of Biafra because they believe Nigeria has not done enough to assimilate the Igbo people. I do not think it has healed.

The Igbo want other ethnic nationalities to stop acts that delegitimize their pains and sufferings. They call for justice, especially for some acts that could pass as genocidal, and above all an apology from Nigeria. They believe that until these issues are looked into the pains of Biafra may not heal.

Igbo also do not feel included in Nigerian politics. They have been singing the marginalization song.

Do many Igbo still wish to have a separate nation? Are there Igbo who still wish for secession?

Yes there are, mostly the younger people. They feel frustrated by Nigeria and strongly believe that Nigeria is holding them down. They openly call for secession, and in some Igbo villages, you easily see flags of Biafra hanging from tall structures, and young people wearing T-shirts with the Biafra emblem on it.