Biafrans Killing: Do not test the resolve of our ESN - IPOB warns army, police, others

 

IPOB PRESS RELEASE | THE BIAFRA TIMES

05/08/2021

THE SECRET GENOCIDAL ATTACKS ON BIAFRANS BY THE NIGERIA SECURITY AGENTS DISGUISING AS UNKNOWN ARMED MEN MUST STOP - IPOB

We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hereby caution those who call themselves unknown armed men rampaging communities in Biafra land particularly those killing innocent people in Okporo and Umutanze Orlu Imo State, to immediately stop the ethnic cleansing or brace up for mass resistance by the people. 

Nigerian Police should stop parading innocent people and tagged them ESN personnel because there is no nobody looking or missing in IPOB, parading innocent people and tagged them ESN shows that Nigeria police and army has failed it and don't know their job, since Nigeria abandoned their duty and focus on dishing false information to public we are out to expose them with their cover their  with lies. Those you paraded to the public are not ESN members. Nigeria must stop ridiculing themselves in the world because everyone is watching their activities. 

Nigerian Police must release those they picked and tagged them ESN operatives or charge them to court. ESN is special people ordained by God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama which Nigeria army and police will not approach where they are. Nigeria army, police and other security agencies cannot reach or enter ESN camp, we bordering their propaganda and fake information they are dishing out to the public, these people are not ESN members. 

If this secret genocide is not halted, both the perpetrators and their sponsors will be dealt with in no distant future. It is regrettable that some shameless politicians would connive with the oppressors to kill their own who committed no crime other than demand their freedom from the Nigeria contraption. These Efulefus and evil politicians decided to sponsor Nigeria army and police to attack innocent Biafrans in Orlu and other places in Biafra land to implicate IPOB and ESN.

Today, the Nigeria army and police are killing our people, burning their houses and blaming their abominable actions on unknown gunmen. We therefore warn them to stop this madness or they will be testing the will of our gallant Estern Security Network, ESN, operatives.

The unprovoked attacks by Nigeria Army and Police on innocent Biafran citizens under the guise of  unknown armed men must stop or the monsters will consume those that created them.  IPOB will no longer allow the ongoing secret genocide against hapless Biafrans by the wicked Nigeria security agencies and their collaborators.

 We are warning politicians and traitors amongst us supporting this evil agenda to call it quit or brace up for the wrath of the people.  We are aware that Fulani terrorists in Abuja instructed Hope Uzodinma to create them to implicate IPOB and ESN but we will prove to them that we are smarter.

It is ridiculous to think that IPOB which has been operating for many years now will suddenly start killing

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

Evidence Showing That Over 90% Of Citizens Killed By Soldiers And Police In Eastern Nigeria Are Innocent & Defenselessness - International Society

June 17, 2021 | The Biafra Times

Recap

Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, 17th June 2021:It is recalled that the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law had on 11th and 14th June, 2021 updated its special report of 31st May 2021 and provided more detailed and analytical evidence showing that: in first 160 days of 2021 or 1st January to 10th June, the Nigerian security forces especially soldiers of the Nigerian Army and other branches of the Armed Forces and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and DSS abducted or arrested and incarcerated no fewer than 2500 mostly innocent and law abiding citizens of Igbo Christian extraction; that the abductions or arrests took place in the nine Southeast and South-south States of Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers; that not less than 500 others were traceably killed including 150 victims of the State backed Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks; that out of the over 2500 abductees or arrestees, not less than 600 were disappeared or feared killed in the captivity of the military; that over 90% of the victims of the above conduct atrocities are innocent, falsely labeled and criminally stigmatized; that soldiers and police turned blind eyes on Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks including the recent massacre of not less than 150 defenseless Igbo Christians and till date no single Jihadist Fulani Herdsman involved has been picked and tried; that over 90% of Police and Military claims of “killing” or “arresting” ESN/IPOB hoodlums/terrorists/supporters/charms provider- native doctors” are false and unfounded; that 14 out of every 15 citizens killed are innocent and defenseless,  out of every 25 arrested, 24 are innocent and law abiding and out of every 60 citizens abducted and disappeared by soldiers, 59 are not most likely to return to their homes or families alive; that out of over 350 victims of the military and police killings, less than 10% of them were combatively involved, out of which 60% were killed outside the law or ought not to have been shot and killed on account of being nonviolent at the time of their shooting and killing; and in other words, they are victims of deadly use of force).

Continuation Of Killings, Abductions & Disappearances In The Last Seven Days

It is our additional finding that in the last seven days or 10th to 17th June 2021, at least 60 more civilian citizens were abducted or arrested in the named nine States, out of which 20 were disappeared by soldiers, 40 taken into detention by police and DSS and at least ten openly killed and questionably labeled. Many, if not most of the renewed conduct atrocities were recorded in Imo and Abia State. Also, in the same last seven days, more than twenty houses and other properties belonging to civilian citizens, who, till date, are unprocessed, unindicted, untried and un-convicted, were set ablaze by soldiers of the Nigerian Military and the Nigeria Police “Tactical”, “Quick Intervention” and “Anti Kidnapping/Cult” squads. In other words, it is correct to say that in the past 167 days of 2021 or 1st January to 17th June, no fewer than 2,560 civilian citizens who are mostly innocent and law abiding were abducted by Nigerian security operatives and held without trial, out of which not less than 620 were disappeared or feared killed in secrecy mainly by soldiers. Not less than 310 traceable deaths including victims of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks were also recorded.

Abduction, Killing And False Labeling Of Religious Leaders And Custodians Of  The Tradition

The Nigerian security forces in Eastern Nigeria are hatefully and indiscriminately killing and abducting defenseless, innocent and unarmed citizens and labeling them falsely. The security forces in total disregard to sacredness and sanctity of religious and traditional institutions and their custodians have also launched indiscriminate attacks on them, killing and abducting several of them and labeling and stigmatizing them. Since January 2021 in Eastern Nigeria and without concrete investigative evidence, not less than 70 Christian religious leaders and custodians of Traditional religions or their sacred altars have been killed extra-judicially or hatefully abducted and falsely labeled as “ESN/IPOB terrorists” or “native doctors preparing charms for ESN/IPOB hoodlums”. Such hate killings and false labeling are also accompanied by burning down of dozens of Christian and Traditional Religion’s worship centers and desecration of their sacred symbols.  Among them were some 35-40 Christian religious leaders of the Jewish Religion and the African Instituted Churches, a branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria abducted in March and April 2021 by Army and Police in Orlu and environs and falsely labeled “ESN/IPOB hoodlums” and “native doctors preparing charms for ESN hoodlums”.

Several highly respected traditional herbalists have also been attacked and abducted or killed extra-judicially by soldiers and Police including the DCP Abba Kyari’s “IRT”. Funny enough, witnesses have disclosed to Intersociety how the said security operatives dot their operational vehicles and bodies with deadly charms and hire malevolent medicine men to accompany them.  On June 12, 2021, Chief Duru Azubuike, a respected herbalist in Nguru, Mbaise, Imo State, was attacked and killed alongside his nephew by the Imo State Police Command and two days later, a censored statement claimed that: “they were killed by bandits/hoodlums”. On June 8, 2021, the Imo State Police Command falsely claimed to have “arrested two native doctors at Ukwuorji area of Mbaitoli of the State preparing charms for IPOB who also alongside seven others were involved in the attack on Gov Hope Uzodimma’s house at Omuma”. The two were named as ‘Chinedu Nwakaire and Uzoamaka Ugoanyanwu (40 years old”. But on investigation, Intersociety found that the two were just ‘tax collectors’ collecting tolls at Njaba River before allowing access to the visitors especially those from different religions who visit the River for solutions to their personal problems. The seven arrested persons were also found to be visitors to the River, arrested at the River side and falsely labeled.

On 11th June 2021, trucks loaded with soldiers and armored personnel carriers from 34 Brigade, Ohafia invaded Amangwu Ohafia in Abia State and principally targeted to abduct a respected and powerful herbalist, Uchechi Olu George.  The soldiers also moved from house to house, abducting youths and labeling them “ESN/IPOB terrorists”. The provoked situation and attempt to abduct the respected herbalist was physically and spiritually resisted leading to death of several soldiers which forced them to retreat and regroup and storm the Community in war-like style. It was also alleged that a top official of the Government of Abia State was instrumental to the soldiers’ invasion following torching of his house three weeks ago and a lingering rift between him and the powerful herbalist and the youths of the area. In the end, soldiers abducted scores and killed Pius Nwachukwu Michael and one Samuel and injured others including Ndubuisi Agwu and Eke Uche. They also set six houses, four vehicles and three motorcycles on fire and burnt them beyond recognition. The five paramount traditional rulers of the Ohafia Kingdom have also bemoaned incessant harassments and attacks by soldiers on the ancient Community and its clans including mass labeling them as “ESN/IPOB terrorists/supporters”. They also cried out saying that ‘soldiers have turned them and their land into IDP camp.  Same was the case with the traditional rulers in Esien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State who addressed the media on 13th June 2021 lamenting incessant intimidation, harassment and attacks on them and their defenseless natives by soldiers and police. The attacks include abductions, extrajudicial killings and falsely labeling them “ESN/IPOB terrorists/supporters”.

READ ALSO: Joint Press Statement: Biafra and Oduduwa Volunteer Force; - See video

Killing And False Labeling Of Over 30 Innocent Citizens At Ariaria Junction, Aba

On 23rd April 2021, an attempted attack was launched at an Army Roadblock at Ariaria Junction, near the crowded Ariaria International Market in Aba and the attackers retreated and escaped without combative casualty. Reinforcement of soldiers was sent from 144 Battalion and the drafted soldiers opened fire on innocent citizens including nearby shoe makers, Keke riders and other passersby, killing at least 30 and abducting scores of others. The shooting started between 7.30pm and 8pm of same day. Out of those killed, seventeen bodies were dumped at the Old Abia State Teaching Hospital (now mortuary). The soldiers and police picked some of the dead bodies and paraded them as “bodies of ESN gunmen killed while trying to attack soldiers at Ariaria Junction”. As if that was not enough, soldiers gathered over a dozen innocent citizens abducted from the scene and shot them dead at night of the same day. Two of those killed have been identified in the video as Nzubechukwu Nwaigwe, 35 years from Umuneke, Ehime-Mbano in Imo State and one “Ambassador”, who was a gateman/electrician at a property located near the Ariaria Market and a native of Osiri in Ezza Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Intersociety had studied and shared a video of the shooting possibly given out discreetly by one of the soldiers to an informant who shared same elsewhere. Among the seventeen slain innocent citizens dumped in the said Government mortuary, three have been identified as Citizens David Chukwuka, 21 years old from Igboeze North in Enugu who was a shoe maker at Ariaria Market, Ifeanyi Thomas, 28 years old Ariaria Market based shoe maker and a native of Ozuitem in Bende, Abia State and Okoro Alums, 26 years old Ariaria Market based shoe maker and a native of Amasiri in Ebonyi State.

Killing And False Labeling Of Over Ten Innocent Citizens At Enyeogugu, Abor-Mbaise

On 30th May 2021, the Nigerian military personnel stormed Enyeogugu Market Square in Abor-Mbaise and opened fire killing at least ten innocent citizens and injured others. The Imo State Police Command was immediately contacted and some of the bodies were gathered and later paraded as “bodies of ESN/IPOB gunmen that killed Barr Ahmed Gulak who met their waterloo in exchange of gunfire with gallant security operatives”. The Police claim was investigated by Intersociety and it was found that there was an attack at a police station and the attackers were blocked with a lorry loaded with onions by some Northern Muslims in the area, forcing the gunmen to shoot in the air in anger and scatter baskets-loads of onions which opened the road route leading to their escape without any loss of life. The passersby including church goers and returnees, Okada and Keke riders and others cashed in and were scrambling for the onions when soldiers arrived the scene and opened fire, killing not less than ten and injuring others. The next day, being 31st May 2021, personnel of the 211 Regiment, Nigerian Air Force in Owerri stormed the place with their vehicles and engaged in wanton shop to shop looting and molestation leading to carting away of goods worth millions of naira, looted from at least 20 shops. The Member, representing Abor Mbaise/Ngo Okpala Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, Hon Bede Eke also cried out on 3rd June 2021, saying that ‘security agencies are killing his constituents’. He gave the names of some of the slain victims as Noel Chigbu Nzeribe and Tochi Ekwe, among others.

Other Innocent Citizens Killed And Falsely Labeled

On 3rd June 2021, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna visited the Federal Medical Center, Owerri and saw not less than 35 freshly slain corpses dumped by soldiers and police at the mortuary section of the FMC. He had earlier visited the Owerri Prisons on 26th May and saw 106 citizens freshly brought and dumped in the Prisons. These are contained in the Saturday Vanguard of 5th June 2021.  On 29th May 2021, following an attack at the Abia State CID, Umuahia, soldiers and police went on rampage, abducting and killing dozens of innocent citizens. The attackers have attacked and escaped uncaught only for soldiers and police to invade houses and abducted dozens of innocent citizens. Soldiers alone abducted not less than 40 and eight of those they abducted and handed over to the Police the same night were gathered and shot dead and paraded as “bodies of armed ESN/IPOB killed in exchange of gunfire with gallant security operatives who repelled attack at the State CID Headquarters at Umuahia”. Among the eight innocent citizens abducted in their house the same evening and killed same night are: Obinna Onyebuchi Egekwu, 30 years old young father of two and his nephew, Onyebuchi Anthony Amadi, 27 years old. They hailed from Umuahia in Abia State. Till date, the whereabouts of over 40 others abducted and taken away by soldiers have remained unknown.

Citizen Oguchi Unachukwu, a Germany based Businessman was shot and killed by personnel of the 211 Regiment of the Nigerian Air Force in Owerri. He was killed on 1st June 2021 at the entrance Gate of Sam Mbakwe Air Port in Owerri on his way back to Germany. Citizen Oliver Mmaduakolam, an Owerri based millionaire businessman was shot and killed by soldiers on 25th May 2021. He was returning from a business trip outside Owerri when soldiers shot and killed him. Citizen Ifeanyi Obi, 45 years old father of three and prospering shoe manufacturer at ‘Bakkasi Market’, Ariaria International Market, Aba and a native of Egwe in Oguta, Imo State was among those five citizens shot and killed by soldiers and police in Imo State on Sunday, 6th June 2021 and later paraded as “bodies of ESN/IPOB gunmen killed in exchange of gunfire with gallant security operatives while trying to attack the Imo State Police Headquarters”. He had traveled home on Friday, 4th June alongside his wife’s younger brother, Chima for the latter’s uncle’s burial and boarded a bus going back to Aba on Sunday, 6th June when gunshots rented the air at Alvan Ikoku axis, forcing the vehicle he was traveling with to hurriedly dispatch all passengers. Late Ifeanyi and his in-law ran in different directions to escape flying Army and Police bullets. Soldiers stormed where he took refuge at an open place and shot him dead. The Imo State Police Command later paraded him alongside four others and labeled him falsely. The Police also removed his trousers and placed a pump action gun across his body to publicly portray him as a common criminal caught and killed in the act.  Instances are too numerous to mention.

 

Signed:

For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chair and Chidimma Udegbunam, Esq., Head of Publicity

 

Contacts: Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052,

Email: [email protected], 

Website: intersociety-ng.org

CLAIMS BY IMO CP THAT IPOB KILLED 128 SECURITY PERSONNEL, MALICIOUS FALSEHOOD TO BLACKMAIL US - IPOB

 

IPOB PRESS RELEASE | The Biafra Times

June 10, 2021

The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the  fallacious and fabricated statements credited to the Commander, 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze,  Gen. Raymond Utasaha, and Police Commissioner Imo State, Alhaji Abudu Yaro, that IPOB killed 128 security personnel in Imo State.

The above statement is not only fabricated but ridiculous and untenable. How could IPOB that is not armed be able to kill as many as 128 security personnel in one state? What an illogical and ridiculous claim!

 This is nothing but one of the antics of our oppressors to tarnish our global reputation and whip up public sympathy. They also want to use it as a smoke screen to justify their further crackdown on IPOB and its members. .

We therefore wish to declare for the records that IPOB did not kill any security personnel in Imo or any state for that matter. IPOB since inception, has remained a peaceful movement with the sole mandate of restoring Biafra. We have not changed our non-violent philosophy for the restoration of Biafra. If for any reason we need to change our peaceful approach, we shall make same public but for now we have not gone into arms struggle, and don't intend to.

It will be necessary again to clarify that IPOB is not, and should not be taken for 'Unknown gunmen' that have been reportedly having issues with security agencies in parts of the country especially the defunct Eastern Nigeria. IPOB should not be held responsible for the activities of a group not commissioned by us.

Importantly, the Eastern Security Network ESN set up in December 2020 has no relationship whatsoever with the unknown gunmen. ESN was a child of circumstance established to resist the Killer herdsmen rampaging our communities. ESN operatives are in the forests where they are keeping their appointments with those invading our ancestral land. 

We therefore wish to tell the world that neither IPOB nor ESN is involved in any attack against security personnel in Imo or any part of the country. The Nigerian Army and other security agencies are only desperately looking for how to incriminate IPOB and ESN to justify their continued extra-judicial killings of our members.

The world should prevail on the Nigeria security agencies to stop the ongoing house to house abductions of innocent youths in Biafra land who they label unknown gunmen and later kill without trial. This atrocity must stop!

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED WAR AGAINST BIAFRANS - IPOB

 

IPOB PRESS RELEASE 

May 20, 2021 | The Biafra Times

The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the recent security meeting held in Aso Rock  by the Service Chiefs and the impostor parading himself as  President Muhammadu Buhari.

Far-reaching but undisclosed decisions were reached at the meeting on how to quell insecurity in the Eastern region.

It's on record that nobody from South East was present or invited at the meeting where such critical decisions were taken. Despite the mounting public outcry trailing the decision of the Fulani controlled federal government to commence another military operation in the Eastern region as approved at the meeting with shoot-on-sight order against Igbo youths and Biafra agitators, the security agencies are bent on carrying out the order.

Just two days ago, the Inspector General of Police while launching a special Police Operation for South East called Operation Restore Peace, in Enugu confirmed the peoples fears when he asked police personnel not to wait for any other special order before they start killing protesters and anyone confronting them in the zone. He assured them of federal protection against human rights allegations or prosecutions, urging them to take the war to the people in their homes.

He specifically directed them to ensure they eliminate anybody suspected to be a Biafran agitator or IPOB member, and not to bother bringing them to Police stations anymore.

Our intelligence unit has equally uncovered another secret meeting where the federal government of Nigeria authorized the security Chiefs to crush IPOB members, Biafra agitators and youths in the Eastern region, assuring them of adequate protection against any prosecution by human rights organisations.

Our intelligence further revealed that part of their decision at the meeting was to use use those Boko Haram members they recruited into the Nigeria military and police to eliminate anybody they see on the street as being currently witnessed in Imo State. The military invaded students hostel in Owerri shooting sporadically and directly at people. 

We are equally aware that the Fulani-controlled Federal Government of Nigeria had ordered another military operation  codenamed " Operation Restore Peace" in the South East and South South. This is only but another "Operation Massacre Biafrans" in disguise.

There are so many security challenges in the North where the rampaging Boko Haram terrorists and bandits have siezed the control of many communities and Local Government Areas, yet there is no shoot-on-sight order declared by the double-faced Buhari-led federal government. South East and South South are not in war with anybody but Fulani terrorists supported by Nigeria government brought war in our land, killing innocent people while pointing accusing fingers at IPOB members and ESN operatives. 

The action of the federal government is nothing but a declaration of war against Biafrans. The Buhari-led administration and his Service Chief have no moral justification to take a military action against South East without a South Eastern in attendance at the meeting where such decision was purportedly taken. This, and of course the appointment of Service Chiefs were in clear violation of the principles of Federal Character enshrined in the zoo's constitution.

Every indigenous community in Biafraland must be careful and prepared because they have brought the war in our door step. They have already started burning people's houses and killing them. But our God shall fight for us and we will defeat them. The same way they could not crush us during the three-year Biafra war, they won't be able to prevail even now.

We also want to put the world on notice that Buhari and his Service Chiefs should be held accountable for any genocide or war in Eastern Nigeria. They brought the war to our door steps and we have no option but to defend our ancestral land. And that we must do irrespective of the cost!

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

Helpline: Documentation Of Human Rights Violation In Igbo Land/Eastern Nigeria

 

May 19, 2021 | The Biafra Times

On behalf of the Eastern Rights CSOs and Intelligentsia Coalition (a coalition of 40 Rights CSOs and Intelligentsia bodies), Intersociety hereby appeals and invites members of the public in the East including town union, human rights and Christian faith activists or leaders particularly in Igbo Land part of Benue, Kogi and Edo and Eastern Nigerian States of Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi to report to us any human rights violation in their areas by the following: Army, Navy, Air Force (i.e. killing of unarmed and defenseless citizens through air bombings), SSS, Police and its various operational squads. Others are joint military and police special squads, jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their ‘Banditry’ counterparts, etc. This appeal is authorized by Emeka Umeagbalasi and Barr Chidimma Udegbunam, Board Chair and Publicity Head of Intersociety

·         The human rights violations being focused on include: late night abductions and disappearances involving unarmed and defenseless citizens, burning down or destruction of living houses and sacred places of worship and learning, arrest and detention of civilians by army, navy and air force, police long detention of citizens without trial, sexual violence against women including abduction, rape and death-rape; extrajudicial shooting and killing (i.e. instant or custodial killing of unarmed citizens), false labeling and trumped up charges, indiscriminate late night invasion of dwelling houses and broad day light shooting of unarmed citizens, assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and torture; Fulani Herdsmen and Fulani Bandits’ killings or destruction and seizure of farmlands and abduction, disappearance, rape and broad day and captivity murder of women and others.  

·         Details concerning the victims of human rights violation include: full name of the victim and his/her gender, age, religion and number of kids borne (if she is a married woman), victim’s community, local government area and state of origin; time, date and location of the rights violation and type of rights abuse perpetrated; whereabouts of his/her body if killed and disappeared or  name of security agency responsible for his/her body’s disappearance; name and contacts of victim’s  next-of-kin; number of  victims (if group victims) and name of the state actor or non state actor entity that perpetrated the human rights violation.

Read Also: INTIMIDATION OF NEWSPAPER VENDORS, JOURNALISTS BY NIGERIA SECURITY OPERATIVES IN IMO STATE, BARBARIC - IPOB

.       The purposes of this clarion call are to document and expose the atrocities perpetrated and their perpetrators for global attention and accountable-justice including trial at ICC and others as well as to safeguard the unarmed and defenseless citizens from remote and immediate operational atrocities of the Nigerian security agencies-noted globally as serial abusers and violators of human rights.

.       We are also determined at documenting and exposing the atrocities of the jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their ‘Banditry’ counterparts across the East particularly in Igbo Land; being perpetrated for purpose of advancing the Government backed jihad project but deceitfully camouflaged as “rural cattle grazing”. We must not allow the ongoing grisly or ‘industrial scale’ human rights abuses and violations in Igbo Land and the rest of Eastern Nigeria to continue!

Please send your verified and verifiable details to our contacts below:

Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052

Email: [email protected]

Our Website is: intersociety-ng.org

Dated: Wednesday, 19th May 2021

INTIMIDATION OF NEWSPAPER VENDORS, JOURNALISTS BY NIGERIA SECURITY OPERATIVES IN IMO STATE, BARBARIC - IPOB

IPOB PRESS RELEASE 

May 18, 2021| The Biafra Times

We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our prophet and liberator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, condemn in very strong terms, the incessant arrest and humiliation of newspaper vendors as well as the harassment of journalists by the Nigeria security operatives for writing or distributing Biafra, IPOB or ESN-related news materials. This is wickedness and a calculated attempt to suppress the press.

It's a global embarrassment that the Nigeria security agents will be hunting for newspaper vendors and journalists in Imo State and other Biafran cities for committing no crime other than writing or distributing news contents that affect Biafra, IPOB or ESN. How many times have the security agents harrased any journalist or newspaper vendor in the North for writing about Boko Haram or Fulani bandits? 

The same hypocritical Nigeria security agents allow viral videos and audios from Boko Haram and other terrorists to circulate in the media but when IPOB Spokesman was featured on Channels Television, the federal government came on with N5 million fine against the station. Islamic cleric Sheikh Gunmi keeps meeting with terrorists and has turned into advocacy for them through the media, yet journalist or newspaper vendor has been questioned over such reports.

Read Also: ESN too disciplined to engage in criminality – Nnamdi Kanu

The Fulani-controlled Nigeria security agencies cannot suppress Biafra no matter how hard they try. Not even their draconian policies and ant-press moves can stop their atrocities and unprovoked genocidal attacks in Biafra land from being reported. The world must read our story!

We therefore, challenge the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Newspaper Publishers , civil society groups and democracy lovers to take up the fight. It's not about Biafra, it's all about free press and democracy. After all, the victims are not IPOB members but ordinary newspaper vendors and innocent journalists.

The ultimate goal of the Fulani controlled federal government of Nigeria is to intimidate journalists into submission so they will be too afraid to report the extra-judicial killings and other crimes against humanity perpetrated by the security agents against Biafrans. We know their game plan: this is only a prelude so that when eventually they begin their proposed jihad in the Eastern region, no journalists and newspaper vendor will be courageous enough to report or circulate the story.

But they must not be allowed to succeed or get away with this tyranny. The UN, US, EU, UK and lovers of democracy all over the world should ask Nigeria Government why it's clamping down on free press.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

PRESS STATEMENT: POLICE REPORT ON IPOB ALLEGED PLAN TO ATTACK LAGOS -- AFENIFERE replies NPF

 

 MAY 11, 2021 | The Biafra Times

1) The attention of Pan  Yoruba groups has been drawn to reports by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF that Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB-IGBO) are planning to attack Lagos. The Lagos State Commissioner Odumosu made the allegation in Lagos today. He speaks for the police high command in Abuja.

2) While we cherish the  responsibility of the police to do their work, we are concerned about the public declaration of the alleged IPOB plans to attack Lagos by the Nigerian Police

3) We are worried that since the police already claim to be in possession of what appears to be a confidential information, the proper thing would have been to discreetly go after the IPOB members to arrest them unless the police is not sure of its information.

4) The police statement carries the possibility of being misinterpreted as an Igbo plot against Lagos and Yoruba people. This is dangerous given the fragile nature of Nigeria.

Read Also: Nigerian Islamic Jihadists Massacred 1, 470 Christians In First Four Months Of 2021 And Abducted Over 2,200 -- Intersociety

5)We are deeply concerned that the Police publicly declared allegations tempts the prospect of setting Yoruba in the South West against Igbos. This is very unfortunate at a time that state institutions are increasingly being turned to instruments for pursuing primordial ethnic interests. The Yoruba will work never to allow this to happen

6)We are concerned that terrorists and armed herdsmen of Fulani extraction have openly been attacking, kidnapping, raping and killing Yoruba people in the South West but at no time did the police call a press conference to announce such plan after before or after each horrendous killings. There was also never a time the police linked such attacks to any ethnic group.

7) Only recently, Yoruba in Mile 2 were attacked by these people, the police did not make any attempt to speak about the ethnic identity of the perpetrators yet we know they are largely from a section in the North.

😎 We are concerned that the police allegation risks setting a greater danger of ethnic conflict between Igbo and Yoruba people, conscious that this will benefit a certain group who think setting Igbo against Yoruba will meet the objective of scuttling the search for peaceful self determination by the two great civilisations

9) We urge the police not to allow themselves to be used by the desperate Caliphate whose agelong dream is to divide the South and set the people against each other for its own narrow gains

10) We urge Yoruba people to ignore the conscious attempts to cause ethnic conflict between Igbo and Yoruba at this time that both ethnic groups need each other.

11) The police should avoid ethnic profiling. It is dangerous. The Pan Yoruba groups assure of our collective desire to sustain peaceful coexistence between Igbo and Yoruba and avoid any slide into ethnic conflict, an ill wind that blows no one any good. To this end, we shall set up a Committee to work out a platform to sustain ethnic harmony in Lagos.

12) On police plan to attack agitators for Yoruba self determination, We urge the police have respect for internation laws and should signify the basic democratic principle which is the right of a people to debate their political and economic future.

Signed

1) Femi Ajibola Oodua Nationalist Coalition, ONAC 

2) Dr Kunle Oshodi, Agbekoya

3) Alhaji Taofik Adeyemi, Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC (Reformed)

4) Chief Diran Obalola Oodua Liberation Movement, OLM

5) Mr Femi Agbana Yoruba World Congress, (YWC-Lagos State Chapter)

6) Mr Rasaq Arogundade, Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC-Reformed) 

7) Mrs Eunice Okunola, Oodua Women Coalition, (OWC)

😎 Pastor Goke Otunla, Network for Yoruba Alliance, (NENA)

9) Ahmed Korede Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA)

WE HAVE UNCOVERED PLOT BY THE NIGERIA SECURITY AGENCIES TO BEGIN ELIMINATION OF PROMINENT IGBO PERSONALITIES AND BLAME IT ON ESN - IPOB

 

May 7, 2021 | The Biafra Times

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our prophet and liberator Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has uncovered plot by Nigeria security agencies to eliminate prominent men and women, politicians and stakeholders in the whole of Biafraland and blame it on IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

Every politician in Biafraland must be wary of those officers assigned to them as police or army guarding them. ESN, IPOB has no plan to kill our own in Biafraland because we're going to get Biafra together. It profits us nothing to kill our own despite the treachery by some of them.

Our people must be careful because Fulani terrorists in Nigeria army and police uniforms are working tirelessly to ensure that Biafra businessmen, women and politicians are killed in order to pitch Biafrans against themselves and ultimately take undue advantage of the confusion to keep us in bondage.

But we are smarter than all of them put together.  IPOB is raising this alarm for the wise to apply wisdom and avoid being victims of this evil plot. 

Nigerian security agencies  have instructed their officers attached to the politicians to start gradual elimination of Biafrans who they were assigned to protect. But we will resist this wicked plot. 

They are arresting and abducting innocent Biafrans suspected to be members of IPOB or operatives of ESN security outfit. They have arrested more than 68 innocent citizens and detained them at the State CID Awka, Anambra State. Unknown gunmen are doing their own attacks but Nigeria DSS has rather decided to blame ESN operatives and IPOB members instead of investigating to unravel the perpetrators.

The incessant arrest and secret abductions of suspected IPOB members at Izombe, Agwa and other parts of Oguta and Ohaji Egbema cannot stop us from pursuing this freedom. 

Just yesterday, they secretly abducted Obinna Nwuzi, the son of the man whose wife Olivia Nwuzi was abducted and detained in anti kidnapping station at Owerri Imo State. The boy  just returned from Ebonyi State university to see his family but wicked Nigeria security personnel arrested him.  His mother has also been detained for over three weeks now. 

We are warning them never to harm these innocent persons because if they do, they will regret their actions very soon.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

THE WAR HAS BEGUN, WE SHALL FIGHT TO DEFEND OUR ANCESTRAL LAND - IPOB

IPOB PRESS RELEASE 

February 19, 2021 | The Biafra Times

We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to bring to the attention of the whole world, that the Nigeria military has at last, brought war to Biafra land. Supported by other security agencies including police and the Department of State Services, DSS, they came with military jets, tanks and heavy war equipment against us. Yes the second Nigeria/Biafra war has begun! The WAR begun on Thursday, February 18, 2021. 

The wicked Nigeria military has simultaneously launched both land and air attacks on us. After the genocidal war of 1967-1970 in which they killed over 5 million innocent Biafrans, they have come again to bomb the Biafrans under the pretext that they are hunting the gallant personnel of Eastern Security Network ESN guarding our forests against killer herdsmen and terrorists on rampage in our land.

 Days before the raid, they first abducted a

synagogue priest, Mazi Egole and his house hold, branding them IPOB members. Then on February 16, they abducted Mrs NGOZI UMEADI who they learnt took care of those injured during the #EndSARS protest. Not done yet, they took Dr. Stephen Irochi of Multicare Hospital and some injured #EndSARS protesters from Obigbo receiving treatment at the hospital.

With this the oppressive government of the dead President Muhamnadu Buhari now run by the Fulani cabal, has confirmed that it is the chief sponsor of terrorism and banditry going on in our land. The satanic government which could not defend Biafrans against incessant unprovoked attacks against Nigerians has now mobilized its land and air-force against ESN who are patriotically and voluntarily doing the job that Nigeria security forces wickedly refused to do. The crime of ESN is defending locals against Fulani herdsmen.

Orlu and its environs are now a theater of war declared by the wicked Nigeria Government against innocent Biafrans. Scores of innocent civilians have already fallen casualty! Orlu and its neighboring Orsu LGAs have been under heavy bombardment by the Nigeria Airforce since yesterday, February 18, 2021. 

Regrettably, this genocidal war against Biafrans has the endorsement of the Supreme Court Administrator of Imo State, Hope Uzodima who the Fulani Janjaweed Government is using in its futile desperation to actualize its Fulanisation agenda. But he, his likes and their slave-masters will pay heavily for this!

The world must hold Hope Uzodima and the Buhari-led Fulani-controlled federal government of Nigeria responsible for the ongoing genocidal war in Orlu and Orsu. The same hypocritical Nigeria military which could not trace or locate heavily-armed bandits and Fulani terrorists in the forests of Zamfara and other Northern States is now bombing ESN, a mere vigilante group. Miyetti Allah announced its nation wide security outfit and nobody  bombed them till today. Amotekun was formed in the West and the tanks were not rolled out against them. But now that Biafrans have announced our own vigilante group - ESN to protect our people against terrorists kidnapping, raping and slaughtering our people in our own ancestral land, all hell is let lose.

But we promise disgrace to our enemies. They SHALL be shamefully defeated. The WAR has begun! We shall defend Biafra and we shall triumph! No inch of Biafra land will be taken by the Invaders.  We have vowed  never to relinquish any inch of Biafra ancestral land to Fulani Herdsmen from Sahel. Their evil Fulanisation agenda shall perish with them. God of the Jews shall defend us against the enemies. This war will be different from the 1967 genocide!

May we therefore, remind Biafrans all over the world that that decisive moment has come when they must stand to be counted. We need to rise as one people no matter the tongue or ethnicity  for we have a common destiny. We have all been marked for decimation by the Fulani Janjaweed but we must resist them. 

Nobody should erroneously think he is exempted from the wicked plots of our enemies. Even our treacherous political elite should know that the Fulani will not spare them after using them against their own people. Our people in the Nigeria military and other security agencies should also know that the Fulani will reward them with death after using them to fight their kith and kin. We must stand united and fight for our children! Now is the time!

We have no choice but to defend our ancestral land. We have complained enough, written petitions but the world turned blind eyes. The media refused to give us audience. Nobody seems interested in our story but like the Jews we must look unto our God and courageously fight back like heroes. In the end Biafra will come!

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

The Biafra Times

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow us on twitter: @thebiafratimes

Biafra: The Constant Military Brutality And Massacre Of It's Citizens, A Sign Of Unpatriotic Military Forces

By Onoja Christian Obinna | Biafra Writers

January 29, 2021

"My honour is my Faith

I vow my faith in Nigeria

The supremacy of the constitution.

Our heritage of liberty

To defend Nigeria everywhere

Our territory, wealth and people

The cradle of our freedom.

Whenever the clarion calls

whatever price or odds

My faith is one and ever

The Federal Republic of Nigeria"

...................................................................

The above is the creed of the Nigerian Military, having sworn to protect the people and the territory, one wonders why the above creed is not practiced by our military personnels in Nigeria.

The Nigerian boarders meant to be protected from external forces are now left porous to the detriment of innocent citizens of which the most vulnerable are the South Easterners hitherto, referred to as Biafrans. 

A recent military invasion of Okporo, Umutanze and Akatta in Orlu community  at the wee hours of Thursday 21st January 2021 is a very sad tale. How can a nation's Military personnels who are meant to protect her citizens, rolled-in about twenty-one [21] hilux vans into the peaceful land of Orlu in Imo State to unleash mayhem on the people and create panic in the land. The innocent citizens who had retired the previous day without any suspicion of an impending invasion, only woke up to find their villages under military siege.

The people were terrified, they couldn't move out for their normal daily businesses as they saw very heavily armed to the teeth Nigerian soldiers parading their houses, sporadic shooting left the air with pollution from several gunshots. Just as seen and observed by our journalist(s), unsuspecting members of the community were scampering for safety, several people who are members of the community fell by the gunshots, corpses littered around while survivors were seen fleeing from their homes, is there any difference between Hitler of Germany Nazi gestapo style of murdering the Jews and what took effect in Orlu?.

Read Also: Biafra: Let The Game Begin As They So Desired

This indiscriminate Military brutal attacks on civilians has become a norm mostly against the people of South Eastern and South South territory of Nigeria. Ironically, this is the most peaceful region in Nigeria. It is worthy of Note that, the Fulani Herders whom have been rated fourth [4th], most deadly terror group, are on rampage in the Southern part of Nigeria causing a lot of criminalities ranging from, destruction of farm lands, stealing, kidnapping, rape, killing, arson, land usurpation and every manner of atrocity a sane mind can think of, yet they are never prosecuted. The Nigeria military would rather give them protection and back up in their atrocious acts.

It is worthy to note that the people of Orlu are under state sponsored military siege by the firm grip of Supreme Court imposed governor of the state - Mr. Hope Uzodinma. We must condemn the killings, wanton destruction, arson carried out by the cowards in Nigeria Army uniform and alert the international community of an impending doom that this intimidation may lead to. It is keenly observed that the state governor is doing all within his caprices to please his Sokoto Fulani masters so as to be seen as being relevant within the corrupt infested Nigerian government political cycle.

The authorities concerned must call the terrorist organization codenamed Nigeria Military to order and redirect them to Sambisa forest where their equals - the Boko Haram sect has established a camp over the years challenging them for a fight. The brute Nigerian Military cannot stand out to fight terrorists causing all manner of havocs against the state but will always display her cowardice in the defunct Eastern Nigeria because to them and to the Nigeria government who always ordered them to kill us, the South East of Nigeria are a conquered people that must be led as animals to which we can't continue to allow them to kill us at will without reprisals this time. History starts a day.

The Biafra Times

Edited by: Ndubuisi Eke

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow us on twitter: @thebiafratimes

Twitter Handle: @NdubuisiEke07

Survivors of Awkuzu SARS said squad sold body parts of executed victims –Nwanguma, RULAAC Exec Dir

 

October 25, 2020 | The Biafra Times

Okechukwu Nwanguma is the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, an organisation that promotes justice for victims of human rights violation and has handled several cases of human rights violation by the Nigeria Police. He tells ALEXANDER OKERE how the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the security agency became an organised ‘criminal entity’

How would you assess the government’s reactions to #EndSARS protests, especially with the replacement of Special Anti-Robbery Squad with the Special Weapons and Tactics unit?

I am happy that after many years of apparent docility and passivity, Nigerian youths eventually experienced a reawakening, found their voices, picked up the gauntlet and rose to the occasion. I never thought that this day of renewed consciousness would come in my generation. The youth have for many years, been the main targets and victims of police brutality and they rose courageously, in their numbers, to demand an end to police brutality, beginning with the demand for the disbandment of the notorious SARS, a tactical intervention force that was created to fight crime but ended up committing crime and enjoying impunity.

The protests were widespread, resounding and sustained. It achieved substantial success. The youth were clear in their demands and the government made reasonable concessions. However, public cynicism and distrust of government arising from many years of deceit, lies and betrayal, made the protesters doubt government’s sincerity and seriousness to make good its many promises. Hence, the protesters persisted, insisting on seeing concrete actions before they would back down. But when it became clear that sponsored hoodlums had infiltrated, hijacked and derailed the good cause, it was time to tactically retreat, re-assess and continue to engage through other legitimate means. I foresaw and warned of the need to avoid the casualties that the rogue government, using the highly politicised military, was predictably determined to cause among defenceless people whose only crime was peacefully demanding good governance.

Do you consider the redeployment of personnel of the defunct SARS to other units an action that shows the will to address the real problems?

The IGP has said that no member of the defunct SARS will be part of the new outfit that has been created to replace SARS. That is a good first step. The next step would be to do an audit of personnel of the disbanded SARS, identify those with cases of murder and abuse to answer and be investigated and prosecuted. Their victims are also entitled to redress, including apologies and monetary compensations. The personnel also need to go through a psychological evaluation to isolate those with mental health problems. They can’t be reintegrated or redeployed into other units because they will not only continue with their crimes in their new places of postings but also negatively influence other less brutal and corrupt officers. The Nigeria Police needs purging and those who are untrainable and irredeemable must be shown the way out.

What are the problems created by the defunct SARS that require urgent actions from the authorities?

The SARS operatives, just like those of other tactical units, were laws unto themselves because they were answerable only to the IGP. They held senior officers, including state commissioners of police in contempt and were beyond their control. They acted as they liked without supervision and accountability for crimes and abuse.

This was the background against which the IGP, as one of his earlier reform measures, decentralised the command and control of SARS and made state command CPs and zonal assistant inspectors general answerable for any excesses by operatives within their operational jurisdictions. Prior to this, SARS operatives could move from one state to another state to abduct people, take them around, detain, torture and extort huge sums of money in ransom from them. People were taken to their banks or forced to use ATM or POS and their accounts emptied. We are not talking about exhibit money or property. We are talking about rogue operatives robbing people of their hard-earned money and properties. SARS became an organised criminal entity.

Police brutality is a problem that has persisted for long in the Nigerian police system and many Nigerians accuse the leadership of the police of alleged complicity. Do you share that opinion?

Nigeria at independence inherited the institutional culture of the colonial police, the culture of violence and repression. Its philosophy is regime protection rather than service and protection for the people. This culture was reinforced by military rule and has persisted under the current dispensation. Inadequate funding of the police and poor welfare conditions of the personnel are also contributory to abuse and corruption. When officers have to require money from complainants or accused persons to investigate cases, it creates room for corruption and violence.

When junior officers are required to make returns to senior officers to retain their ‘lucrative’ beats, corruption becomes institutional. It will be difficult to achieve change at the lower level when there is also corruption at the top.

The new Police Act provides a new legal framework to reposition the police. It provides a funding framework to ensure that police budgeting is bottom-top and reflects the actual budgetary needs of the NPF at all levels.

There have been concerns raised about Awkuzu SARS in Anambra State. Can you share your experience with the centre?

Awkuzu SARS was the most notorious of all the SARS bases across the country. It was notable for the cruelty and mindlessness of its operatives in the abuse of arrest and detention procedures, and in the use of torture and extrajudicial killings as means of ‘investigation’. They were notable for framing and parading people for crimes they had no evidence that they committed. They extorted huge sums of money from their victims and family members of their victims. They also killed for politicians and were available for hire to settle scores. The majority of the victims who were lucky to come out alive or their relatives alleged that Awkuzu SARS harvested and sold the body parts of some people they executed. This needs to be properly investigated to ascertain its veracity or otherwise. One notorious man ran a human ‘abbatoir’ at Awkuzu SARS where lives were willfully terminated. He denied detainees access to anybody and disregarded court orders. His activities, including his connection with politicians and notable businessmen in Anambra State should be investigated.

Justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings by the police has been a difficult task for affected families. Who should be blamed for this; the police or the Nigerian judicial system?

Amnesty International, in one of its old reports, described the Nigerian criminal justice system as a conveyor belt of injustice. This is true. From poor police investigation due lack of funds, proper training and facilities, to inefficiency and delay by the prosecutors, to congestion, delay and, sometimes, corruption in the judiciary leading to delay of and, sometimes, denial of justice, to  congestion of correctional centres, the entire criminal justice system is a curse on the citizens, especially the poor. In few cases where the courts have determined cases of extrajudicial killing and ordered the police to pay compensations to victims, the police disobey most of such orders and the courts are often helpless. The attorneys general are also complicit in many cases by failure to effectively ensure that court orders are obeyed by executive agencies or that justice is dispensed fairly and speedily in their jurisdictions.

For how long has the defunct Awkuzu SARS had its reputation as an abattoir?

It was as far back as 2005 or 2006, when I went to Anambra State to do research on the patterns and prevalence of police abuse in my advocacy for police reforms that I came about specific cases. It has maintained that notoriety (Awkuzu SARS) and that particular commander spent several years in that same unit. What you would find is that in most places, officers like that are usually kept for so long because they work not just for law enforcement but also for people in government and businessmen. There is one area we need to further investigate: Every single person I have interviewed who passed through Awkuzu SARS spoke about the sale of human parts. I know that this is something difficult to prove, even though they all say it. And they described a particular man called Doctor, who always came in a white robe any time somebody was shot at the back of the torture chamber. What he came to do, they did not know. So, that gave them the impression that the man was coming to harvest human parts but that needs to be investigated.

What specific methods of torture were employed at the centre?

The most prominent was tying the two hands and legs of the victims behind their backs and hanging them from a ceiling fan with their victims’ chests protruding. They would leave them for hours, flog them, administer electric shock and use fire, hot objects and machetes on them. Sometimes, they (SARS officers) would also insert broomsticks into their genitals, for males; and for females, they would use bottles. Sometimes, also, when they wanted to execute, without shooting them, they would use a trampoline to cover their face so that they would suffocate. So, these were the usual methods that we heard from the people we interviewed.

Did some of the female victims say they were raped?

I have come across many female victims of torture who, in the course of narrating their ordeal, would not normally tell you that they were raped. But when you probe further, they tell you in confidence and tell you not to include it in the report. So, sexual violence is prevalent. The only problem is that there is a culture of silence that makes victims not want to talk about it.

Why do you think nothing has been done about the activities of policemen at the defunct Awkuzu SARS?

The man (former head of Awkuzu SARS) has serious connections with power businessmen in Anambra State. A former IGP told me that, following our numerous petitions against the notorious former head of Awkuzu SARS, he wanted to remove him from that place, but that he (IGP) received calls from a governor, a prominent traditional ruler in the state, and a prominent transporter, who was a regular visitor to Awkuzu SARS as of that time. With the connections with these powerful people, it was difficult for any IGP to take steps. The IGP also had difficulties in removing a former head of SARS in Lagos but had to create a new office for him and move him to Abuja.

Do you know if any of the officers of Awkuzu SARS has been prosecuted for the crimes committed?

Not a single one has been prosecuted.

Who do you think should be blamed for the lack of accountability in the defunct SARS and the police in general?

Let me tell you the truth. The responsibility is at two levels. One thing I know is that the commissioners of police in state commands usually don’t have control over SARS. The person that has control over SARS is the IGP, but he hardly does anything because the units make a lot of money and make returns to retain those posts. So, at one level, it is because some of the IGPs benefit from the money they get from SARS units. On the other hand, it is because of political interference. The truth is that the President is the operational head of the police, not the IGP. Nigeria is the only country in the whole world where we have that kind of arrangement, where a political leader that ought to be in charge of policies, is in charge of both policies and operations. So, that is one of the reforms that must happen if the Nigeria Police must be insulated from political control and inefficiency, and be made professional.

Some of the accounts reported about the defunct SARS are wicked and horrific. Why do you think people meant to protect unarmed citizens lost their conscience and became evil?

It is because of the impunity in the system. They killed once and nothing happened, so they would do it again. When there is a culture of violence and brutality, nothing happens. That is why an officer in SARS would use his powers to settle personal scores. If you have a person who committed no crime, they could arrest the person and label that person a kidnapper or an armed robber. They would demand money and if the person failed to bring it, they could kill the person.

Some states have set up judicial panels of inquiries to look into the issues raised by the protesters, with regard to the excesses of the police. Do you think these will give justice to the victims?

This is a rare opportunity for justice for the numerous victims of police brutality. In the past, many decisions of judicial panels of inquiry have been ignored. The ‘Apo six’ is a handy example. But we need to explore this opportunity and engage it to ensure that it works for the people and achieves the justice they deserve and desire.

There were allegations that the protests derailed and turned violent as witnessed in Lagos, Edo, Osun, Abuja and others. What do you think went wrong?

The protest lasted about 11 consecutive days and remained peaceful up to the last few days. There was no reason for people who remained peaceful all along and who, from the start, continued to express their commitment to remain peaceful, to suddenly resort to violence. Of course, we heard news and saw videos of hoodlums attacking peaceful protesters in many states. At some point, pro-government protesters also confronted the #EndSARS protesters. So, clearly, government sponsored hoodlums to infiltrate, hijack and derail the otherwise peaceful protests. And they did that to discredit the protesters and to provide the pretext to crack down on them. This is cowardly.

What is your reaction to the curfew imposed by some state governments?

The curfew would have been unnecessary if the hired agents of violence had not intervened and escalated the situation to violence just to provide the basis to impose a curfew and smoke the protesters out of the streets. I commend the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for making the difference and demonstrating leadership which every responsible and well-meaning governor and the President should take a cue from. Rather than blame the protesters, he deployed forces to go after the hoodlums and provide protection for the protesters.

What other ways can true reform be made in the police force?

The new Police Act provides the framework to drive police reform. All the stakeholders who have roles to play under the law must play their roles. We need to sanitise the recruitment process, ensure proper training and retraining, adequately fund and equip the police and improve welfare. Discipline and accountability for abuses are important.

What is your reaction to the killing of peaceful protesters at Lekki, Lagos, by military officers, in view of the issue of extrajudicial killings and disregard for human rights?

What I find completely unwarranted, unjustifiable and, therefore, unacceptable is firing live bullets at unarmed protesters. Military deployment was uncalled for. The IGP had earlier deployed anti-riot police officers who, expectedly, would have used minimum and proportionate force to disperse those who turned the peaceful protest into unnecessary violence. While violence is deplorable, the use of excessive and disproportionate force is a crime under international law that Nigerian subscribes to.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday said the incident at Lekki on Tuesday night was beyond his control. Do you think he should take responsibility for the loss of lives?

Some news reports and videos in circulation report that protesters were shot at by the military and casualties recorded. If the governor said ‘no life was lost,’ then this calls for an investigation. The governor remains the chief security officer of Lagos State and will take responsibility for the state of insecurity enveloping Lagos State. If the situation is beyond his control, he should resign.

Source: Punchng

The Biafra Times

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow us on twitter: @thebiafratimes

IPOB warns Nigerian security agents over abduction and unabated killing of innocent Biafrans

 

IPOB PRESS RELEASE 

September 22, 2020 | The Biafra Times

We the global family of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,  condemn in very strong terms,  the constant harassment, abduction, torture, and secret  killing  of Biafrans or anybody suspected to be IPOB member throughout Biafraland. This deliberate ethnic cleansing  has continued unabated despite our repeated alarms.

For no just cause, the Nigerian security operatives on Friday, September 18, murdered one Mazi Onyeka Udechukwu, a vigilante, in Enugu State. These terrorists in security uniform  also shot and shattered Udechukwu's father's  private part with bullets at Ogui Road Enugu. The victim's badly wounded father is currently receiving intensive medical treatment in a  hospital. 

It's still a surprise how the Nigeria security agents suddenly became a willing tool in the hands of the Fulani -led federal government for the elimination of Judo -Christians and Biafrans. There is no gain saying the fact that the failure of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the recent unprovoked attack and barbaric killing  of unarmed IPOB members at Emene, has only emboldened the perpetrators of this atrocity and criminality.

We are  equally aware of the ongoing  abductions  at Omuma Road Aba  Abia State, Obigbo in Igweocha River state are being perpetrated by the  Fulani terrorists in Nigerian security uniforms. More than two people have already been murdered. IPOB is monitoring all these atrocities, and those behind them must be prepared to face the consequences when the time comes. 

The latest victims of this criminality include Mazi Chukwudi Idika and 10 others who committed no crime known to mankind. The Fulani dominated security officers in Abia State, also  tortured an innocent woman and took her into custody without any provocation.

Fulani is desperate to conquer our land with the support of Nigeria army, police and other security apparatus.  They have equally engaged their footsoldiers - the Fulani terrorist herdsmen, Boko Haram, Ansaru, bandits,  ISWAP and other terrorist groups who are busy killing, raping, burning down villages, and destroying farm lands and taking over communities in Southern Kaduna, Plateau and other parts Middle Belt region. The security agencies are watching them ravaging the land without hindrance. Terrorists now  walk freely in Nigeria, brandishing Ak47 and other deadly weapons. But the hypocritical security agencies   are very much busy pursing unarmed citizens in Biafra land. 

Nigerian security agencies must stop using high handedness on the peaceful members of IPOB, and innocent citizens of Biafra from now, otherwise they will regret their actions soon. Enough is enough! 

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB.

The Biafra Times

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow us on twitter: @thebiafratimes

Halt country’s drift towards absolute dictatorship, CSOs, others warn

By Eno-Abasi Sunday, Gbenga Salau (Lagos) and Terhemba Daka (Abuja)

September 14 2020   | The Biafra Times

With the third invitation extended by the Department of State Services (DSS) to a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, Nigerians and civil society groups have continued to come down hard on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government over its alleged increasing lack of tolerance for divergent views, as well as criticisms of its performance.

According to them, not only is this incessant invitations breaching the rights of Nigerians to freely express themselves in a democracy as enshrined in the universal fundamental principles of human rights, it also represents a blatant attempt by the government to cage the people from demanding good governance.

While warning that the Nigerians leaders are losing credibility in the comity of nations as a result of the actions of the country’s security agencies, they stressed the need to urgently curb the country’s gradual drift towards absolute dictatorship under this regime as a result of shrinking of civic space.

In the last seven weeks or thereabouts, some prominent Nigerians like Mailafia, former House of Representatives Speaker, Ghali Na’Abba, and artistes Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy have allegedly been quizzed by security agencies, including the DSS and the Nigeria Police for either criticising the performance of the administration. Some of them were allegedly cautioned to steer clear of making political comments.

Reacting to the spate of harassment of citizens by security agencies, the Amnesty International (Nigeria) said the country’s constitution is very clear that citizens are free to express their opinions on every issue. Therefore, “stopping or restricting them constitutes an abuse and violation of their rights.”

Board chairman of the group in the country, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, said instead of harassing Nigerians, “whatever comment made should be subjected to verification and action. The state is fast moving to stricken the civil space for citizens. A reasonable government should restrain itself from such, especially as freedom of expression is non-negotiable. The government should not cage Nigerians from expressing their views. If anybody says anything that is not true, the person’s credibility is at stake, and Nigerians would not take them serious.

Read Also: North-South imbalance: Nigeria in free-fall to self-destruct

“So, it is not proper for government and security agencies to keep intimidating citizens. We at Amnesty International (Nigeria) are against it as we are here to promote citizens’ rights. When a government cages the people from expressing their views, it is not a good development, and it is bad for the image of the country regionally and globally. This is aside from the fact that Nigerians leaders will be loosing credibility in the comity of nations,” he stated.

Musa continued: “Last Thursday, 10 people were kidnapped in Abuja, this is what the security agencies should be alert to stop and not going after those expressing contrary views. It is shameful for a government to be intolerant of contrary views because it goes contrary to the constitution of the country.”

As far as constitutional and human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong is concerned, “the country is moving towards absolute dictatorship under this regime. The civic space is shrinking because of the intolerance of the Buhari regime to criticisms and dissenting opinions. The constant harassment of Dr. Mailafia by the DSS and the police should worry any true believer of a democratic society.

“This regime has shown more aggression towards people who speak against it than Boko Haram. Since General Buhari came to power, there has been escalation of attacks on journalists, lawyers, activists and peaceful protesters. Many Nigerians have been murdered by the security forces for simply engaging in peaceful protests. The police and the SSS have neglected their constitutional roles of protecting lives and property and are now preoccupied with arresting and detaining critics and opponents of the regime,” the legal practitioner said.

He pointed out: Across the country, governors have been emboldened by the impunity of the Federal Government to clampdown on critics, and free speech has been criminalised in Nigeria under Buhari. We cannot continue like this. A situation where people are arrested and detained, even in defiance of the court is unacceptable and condemnable.” 

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He warned that “this descent into full dictatorship has to be halted. Section 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every person the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. These are rights that the Nigerian people have fought for and won. We should not allow a lawless regime that has failed in its electoral promises to subvert the rule of law.”

For the pioneer secretary-general, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Debo Adeniran, extending invitations to citizens by security agencies is not all that matters, rather, the outcome of such invitations that should be of concern to the generality of Nigerians.

Adeniran, who is the Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) added that there are occasions when people make remarks or give information that are not generally available in the public space. When this happens, security agencies may think that such persons could help them shed light on the issues they raised or the remarks that they made. “It has happened to me a couple of times, even in the days of military rule.

“Of course, it is the fundamental right of every citizen to have freedom of speech, association, to hold opinion and disseminate it along the dictate of the law. What should not be tolerated is a situation whereby people who do not make inflammatory remarks, are unjustly invited. It should be noted that there is no freedom that is absolute anyway,” the consultant educationalist added.

He said even when citizens resort to protests, “as long as the protests are not violent, the government does not have any business stopping it. What government should do is to send its agents to join the protesters, listen to their demands, and take the information back to government for it to know the grievances of the citizenry. It is not the business of government to be over sensitive, and resort to stopping peaceful protests with brute force. That is not acceptable in a democracy, and is a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.

“Even though we agree that no right is absolute. But the government should be tolerant of opposing remarks. Instead of chasing after the messenger, government should find a way of fixing the complaints and ensuring that there is good governance, accommodation and tolerance.”

Attempts to get the Presidency to comment on the travails of Mailafia, the former Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 general election failed as presidential spokespersons, Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina failed to respond to emails or calls and text messages sent to their mobile phones.

Source: Guardian

The Biafra Times

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

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Angry reactions trail killing of IPOB members in Enugu

August 24, 2020 | The Biafra Times

Angry reactions have started trailing the reported killing of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in Enugu. All the respondents, who spoke to Vanguard in Owerri, were unanimous in their belief that the dead were first Ndigbo before being members of IPOB. They also described the incident as “senseless and condemnable, especially as IPOB members are usually unarmed”.

 Reacting, an Owerri based legal practitioner, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, said the wrong branding of the dead was deceptive and a diversionary tactic to simply write off the dead as IPOB members, instead of Ndigbo. His words: “Forget IPOB. They are Ndigbo. It is completely deceptive and a diversionary tactic to simply write off the dead as IPOB members, instead of Ndigbo. Whoever takes the life of an IPOB member is taking the life of an Igbo and therefore will ultimately account to Ndigbo.”

According to the lawyer, “when I read about the senseless killing of unarmed innocents, who gathered in Enugu on August 23, 2020, in peaceable exercise of their constitutional rights, I quickly began to search the news to learn more and I learnt plenty, including particularly, the somewhat dismissive refrain that those killed are just IPOB members.”

 While arguing that they might be IPOB members, Ejimakor, however, said: “Everybody in the former Eastern Nigeria, who disagrees with what has become Nigeria, is an IPOB member, overtly or covertly”. “They don’t have to carry a registration card for you to be certain that they are IPOB members. All you need to do is to talk with them to convince yourself that they are IPOB members. “An IPOB member is simply any Eastern Nigerian, especially the Igbo, who will rather have Biafra than a Nigeria that eats her children, especially her Igbo children. And they are in the millions. “They are legion. Some are above ground. Some are in sleeper cells and they are not miscreants. They are the Igbo gentry, the elites, the masses, warts and all.

“The Igbo remains an Igbo for now and forever, alive or dead. Nobody can change that. No subliminal narrative of just IPOB can change that.” Another IPOB loyalist, who simply identified himself as Chikerem, urged the security agencies to “stop branding people IPOB when they know that the killing and maiming unarmed Ndigbo”. Chikerem also reasoned that those killed were Ndigbo before becoming IPOB members, adding that “it beats my imagination why the Nigerian government has disdain for Ndigbo, but relentlessly want to keep us in Nigeria”. Answering a question, Chikerem said that there was no way anybody can detach IPOB members from Ndigbo, who are not terrorists but are treated and branded as such.

 For Nkemdiri Osukaku, “Igbo life is precious, inalienable and the blood of an IPOB member is not less precious than that of any other Igbo man or woman”. He appealed to the security agencies to face the dreaded Boko Haram, ISWAP and other deadly insurgents that are terrorizing the citizenry, instead of running after unarmed agitators of a free Biafra.

The Biafra Times

Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah

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Horror: Nigerian Army and Police Burning down Houses in Aba

October 4, 2019

By Princewill Akubumma | For Biafra Writers

The government-sponsored terror against the Biafran has taken a new dimension as Nigerian army and police have officially adopted the jihadist tactics of razing down houses in enemy territory. A detachment of soldiers accompanied by a police squad was seen on the 1st of October, 2019, moving around Obohia community in Aba, attacking residents and burning down houses. This method being synonymous with jihad war, the unwholesome operation is therefore feared as Muslim expansionism.

Trying to find an excuse for their dastard assignment, the barbaric team claims some hoodlums attacked them. Incredible! Let’s pretend for a moment to believe the pretext. Hoodlums attacked you and rather than single out the said hoodlums you launch random attacks on citizens, razing down houses in the process? Quite risible.

Recall that a couple of months ago, August to be precise, the Nigeria army stormed a fishing community in Bayelsa state and razed down houses on the pretext that the community killed their colleague. Recall also that a similar attack was orchestrated against Odi community in Bayelsa. 

That government agencies whose responsibility is to protect life and property should turn around to kill and maim those they swore an oath to protect speaks volumes. The hopelessness of the country is simply unquantifiable.

The world is therefore placed on notice about the continued genocide perpetrated against Biafra by the Nigerian state. If this terror continues, the people may have no alternative than to take their fate in their hands.

The Biafra Times

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Edited By Nelson Ofokar Yagazie

Publisher: Charles Opanwa

We Received Orders by Our Superior to Attack Policemen and Release Wanted Kidnap Kingpin - Report

The Biafra Times | August 14, 2019

By Goodness Adaoyichie

• The Army captain is reportedly on the payroll of the kidnap kingpin, Wadume.

Investigations into the killing of three policemen in Taraba State has revealled that the Nigerian Army captain who allegedly ordered the release of Hamisu Bala, popularly called Wadume, exchanged 191 phone conversations with the kidnap kingpin.

The Army captain allegedly ordered soldiers on security check-point along the Ibi-Jalingo expressway in Taraba State, to attack and kill police operatives attached to the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

According to Vanguard, the telephone conversations between the kidnap kingpin, Wadume and the captain were within the space of one month between July 9, 2019, and August 6, 2019.

The source explained that the police authorities believed that the army captain might have been providing cover for the kidnapper, who is said to have received hundreds of millions as ransom from his victims.

It was gathered that the Army Captain, who is currently undergoing interrogation at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, was arrested alongside five other Army personnel, who were alleged to have taken part in the killing of three policemen and their two civilian agents in an operation to arrest a notorious kidnapper, Wadume, in Ibi area of Taraba State.

“The arrested soldiers confessed that they received orders to attack the policemen from the captain, whom they said informed them that Wadume had been kidnapped and was being transported in a silver-coloured Toyota Hiace Bus,” the report said.

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A source at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, reportedly said the soldiers claimed that they acted squarely on the orders of the captain, being their superior officer.

But, police sources at Force Headquarters Abuja, disclosed that the police authorities have established strong links between the army captain and the notorious kidnapper, alleging that “the army captain was on the kidnapper’s payroll”.

The source maintained that its investigations have also revealed that the army captain, who was not present in Ibi town at the time the IRT operatives arrested Wadume, might have ordered his men to attack and kill the IRT operatives as well as rescue “his friend”, the kidnapper.

The Manhunt for Wadume

The IRT’s manhunt to arrest and bring down Wadume’s kidnapping empire began in March 2019, when it received a petition from one Sheriff Umar of Kirikinua South Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The petitioner reported that his cousin, Usman Mayo, was kidnapped on February 15, 2019, at Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and his kidnapper demanded the sum of N200 million as ransom for his release.

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The source explained that the family of the kidnapped victim negotiated and paid the sum of N85 million first, on March 11, 2019, but the abductee was not released.

He said they paid an additional N15 million, on March 16, 2019, making a total sum paid to the kidnappers N100 million and the kidnappers refused to release their victim insisting that the family must pay the N200 million they demanded.

The source explained that the family reported to the police and the IRT was drafted to investigate and track down the suspects behind the kidnapping and rescue the victim.

It was learnt that while investigations into the matter commenced, members of the kidnapped victim’s family paid an additional N20m to the kidnappers and the victim was released,  but the police discovered during investigations that Wadume had strong links to the kidnappers, who got N120 million as ransom from their victim.

The Biafra Times

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Publisher: Charles Opanwa