The Escape of Michael O. Nwankpa, a Lesson for Biafrans in Nigeria Military

By Eluwa Chidiebere Chinazu | Biafra Writers

September 12, 2020

In life history often repeats itself. Those who gave deaf ears to this epic truth ended up becoming victims. Aguiyi Ironsi, Ken Saro Wiwa, Adaka Boro, Biafrans serving in the Nigerian military before the war and currently the Biafrans sent to fight Boko Haram, etc, are typical examples.

Michael O. Nwankpa, a Biafran serving in the Nigerian military is one among the few that escaped same fate before the war. He was serving in Kaduna. Though he escaped, his story could help the current Biafrans serving in the Nigerian military.

Michael was maintaining his oath of allegiance as a soldier to the federal republic of Nigeria. Even when his own people were being massacred, he remained resolute to the call of serving the Nigerian government in the capacity of a soldier.

I could call him a foolish uncle today had it been that he was among the many executed then. But he was a brave soldier who after escaping death at the hands of the northern army Generals, fought gallantly for his motherland Biafra.

According to my mother, a sister he was training in the school then, her elder soldier brother came home and there was a great jubilation in the family. A jubilation that my mother has never forgotten till date.

After the great jubilation, my uncle narrated how he escaped. According to him, all the Biafrans serving in that particular division he was in were held at a gunpoint and locked inside a hall. Luckily, he was not among those held.

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From his hideout he heard the footfalls of the Northern soldiers who were going about looking for the Biafrans among them.

When he figured out that his hideout was no longer safe, he changed location. In his new location he hid himself inside a Dustin container in the Barrack. He slept there for two days before the Dustin was taken away to be emptied. From there, he gained his freedom and headed back home.

He came back and aided his people in the Biafra war. My mother has never stopped to talk about the bullet wound her soldier brother sustained in his hand during the war. The family persuaded him to never go back to the war front again but he remained resolute and went back to fight.

Although he fought at the war front for the years the war lasted, he wasn’t killed in battle. However, a saboteur from his own community saw to his death when the war was coming to an end

This is one of the reasons I beckon on Biafrans to deal accordingly to the saboteurs (big and small) so as to send a strong warning to the upcoming ones.

By the makings of the Almighty God I am here now and will join the league of those that will fight to restore our dear nation, Biafra, which my great, brave and good-hearted uncle fought for. I shall do that for him.

The Biafra Times

Edited by Nelson Ofokar Yagazie

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

Contact us: [email protected]

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Outrage as NSCDC officials opens fire on commuters in Enugu

...Death toll rises to 8 as Police intervenes

...We won’t give up until justice is served— protesting bus drivers

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor, The Biafra Times

March 23, 2018

ENUGU— Heavy protests by irate youths broke out yesterday in Enugu at the popular Milliken Hill after several passengers met their untimely death following gunshots fired at a moving commercial transit bus by an operative of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

The commercial vehicle which later got mesmerized in an inferno with shattered widescreens and glasses caused by the trigger-happy civil defense officials, was heading towards Ngwo Community; a suburb in Enugu metropolis.

One of the protesters, a commercial bus driver who spoke with our Correspondent, said they are not giving up until justice is served in the case involving the NSCDC officials who fired the shot.

According to an eyewitness, it has not been long the commercial bus left the popular Enugu New Market, when armed civil defence officials asked the driver of the bus to terminate further movements.

However, the driver allegedly refused to halt as demanded and sped-off while the NSCDC officials chased the bus on their Hilux van.

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On getting to the end of the road, the civil defence officers opened fire on the commercial bus, causing the driver to veer-off the track and crash into the deep valley.

“Trouble began when a bus driver allegedly stopped and picked a passenger from a spot that was considered unlawful and when NSCDC officials accosted him, he zoomed off.

“The bus was chased by the NSCDC officials in a tricycle and it burst into flames when it felled into a ditch.

“Right inside the valley, the vehicle bursted into a huge fire, leading to death of about eight passengers in the vehicle,” the eyewitness claimed.

The unfortunate development sparked wide protests by the association of commercial bus drivers and other residents of Ngwo community whom were dispersed by barricades and gunshots fired in the air by officials of NSCDC as they ventured towards their headquarters located near New Market.

The burnt remains of a passenger, one of the victims of the incident, was seen trapped under the vehicle, which was lying on its back inside the valley while the only surviving lady was taken to an undisclosed hospital by the Police where she is currently receiving treatment.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who was at the scene of the crash, informed our correspondent that the remains of some other passengers who died in the crash were moved to an undisclosed hospital morgue.

A towing van was eventually brought to lift the commercial vehicle, after which the trapped, burnt remains of the last passenger was recovered and moved by an ambulance to the morgue of Eastern Nigeria Medical Center, Enugu.

Read Also: Biafra: Steer Clear of Our Activities or Have Yourself to Blame - IPOB Warns Nnia Nwodo

Police intervenes as protests rises, says we’ll bring perpetrators to book

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command has said it has commenced investigation into the alleged killing of a commuter by an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed in Enugu on Thursday that the incident took place at about 10 a.m. on Thursday.

It took the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Danmallam and other top functionaries of the state to restore normalcy to the New Market Road.

Danmallam’s arrival saved the situation as commuters were all trapped as angry residents barricaded the New Market Road.

Briefing newsmen shortly after calming down the protesters, the commissioner described the incident as unfortunate.

He said that the police would not allow anyone to jeopardize the peace in Enugu State.

“What happened is very unfortunate, especially with the peace we are enjoying in the state. This kind of thing should not be allowed.

“Investigation has started. We asked people who witnessed what happened to come forward and give us discreet statement, which will help in our investigation.

“We are assuring them that whoever is involved is going to be brought to book.’’


THE BIAFRA TIMES
Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah
Contact us: [email protected]