We won’t retreat or surrender, ESN under oath – IPOB dares Tinubu govt on referendum

We won’t retreat or surrender, ESN under oath – IPOB dares Tinubu govt on referendum

The Biafran Times | Jan. 30, 2025

By Seun Opejobi

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday declared that the Eastern Security Network, ESN, is under oath to safeguard the Southeast, stressing that operatives would not engage in any form of criminality.

Celebrating ESN’s 4th anniversary, IPOB disclosed that there are serious consequences for any ESN operative that goes against the outfit’s Code of Conduct and ethics.

In a statement he signed, the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful, commended the gallantry of the ESN Command in the Southeast as they celebrated their 4th year anniversary on December 12, 2024, noting that “IPOB and Ndigbo are happy to congratulate all ESN Operatives on their belated 4th Anniversary Parade that took place on December 12th, 2024, in Biafra Land.”

Disclosing that the anniversary was delayed due to security concerns, Powerful declared that IPOB won’t retreat or surrender until Biafra’s referendum is achieved and President Bola Tinubu releases its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Read Also: Report: Killings, Abductions And Disappearances Aimed At Violently Seizing And Pocketing Criminal Billions By Police, Military And Armed Non-State Actors Took The Center Stage Of 2024 Christmas And 2025 New Year Holidays In The South-East

According to Powerful: “The ESN Command 4th Anniversary videos and pictures were deliberately delayed because of the security concerns at the time of publication. However, the global family of IPOB and Biafrans in general salute the historic 4th Anniversary of our gallant men and women. We salute their bravery, dedication, and excellent service to our fatherland Biafra. In a special way, we honor the gallant heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in their effort to keep our people safe. The warriors’ spirit in the living and departed comrades are working together to ensure that we restore Biafra Nation. Once again, we say congratulations to the men and women under the ESN Command!

“Eastern Security Network, ESN, is an Indigenous Vigilante Security outfit founded by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the family of IPOB worldwide. The primary mission of ESN is to protect the people of the Southeastern region in the contraption called Nigeria from the marauding terrorists Fulani herdsmen. Prior to the formation of ESN, the murderous Fulani bandits and terrorists occupied many of Biafran’s forests and bushes. From the occupied bushes and forests, they launched attacks on our local farmers, the farmlands, and communities in our region. There were uncountable cases of Fulani terrorists’ attacks on many communities with countless women raped and many people, including children, killed by these soulless terrorists. But in the last 4 years of ESN operations in our land, the cases of Fulani herdsmen mass murder, rapes, killing of farmers, and displacement of communities in the Biafra territory are almost non-existent.

“On this 4th anniversary of the ESN Command, the worldwide family of IPOB wishes to reassure Ndigbo and Biafrans worldwide that ESN has the utmost interest of Biafrans above their own personal interest. They are under oath to safeguard the region and the people. That is why, for the past 4 years, they have sacrificed a lot for the greater good of Biafra land. They have lived in the bushes, confronted many challenges, and faced many difficult circumstances, including loss of lives. However, they have scaled by adopting adaptive strategies and prayers of Biafrans and other lovers of freedom.

“The IPOB leadership and IPOB worldwide have tremendously tried very hard to sustain ESN, and the Biafra struggle in the absence of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Their resolve and determination to sustain and support ESN financially and morally cannot be overemphasized. ESN remains the last line of defense for Biafra Nation. It beholds Biafrans at home and in the diaspora to join IPOB in providing logistical support for ESN to continue to protect our land for the battles ahead. They are under oath to safeguard the region and the people.

“ESN Operatives have a strong sense of ethics and morality in discharging their duties. Therefore, be assured that ESN shall not engage in any criminal activity or in the killing or destroying of the people they have vowed to protect. There are serious consequences for any ESN Operative that goes against the ESN Code of Conduct and ethics.

“In this year 2025, ESN will intensify their activities in sting operations against all the criminals who have turned our land into a place where all manner of evil and abominable activities—ritual killings, extortion, illegal arrest, and forceful disappearances, drug businesses—take place. It is going to be an eye for an eye operation. Biafra Land must be free from all forms of criminality and terrorism being sponsored by the Nigerian government and desperate politicians just to tarnish the image of ESN, IPOB, and the Biafra struggle.

“ESN hereby warns all the local vigilantes under any code name in Biafra Land to tread with caution in discharging their duties. ESN operatives are not against the genuine vigilantes that are helping to curb crimes. But they must not cross the red lines by being a tool in the hands of the Nigerian Government and her murderous Security Forces to hunt, abduct, and kill any IPOB member or any innocent Biafran in Biafra territory. If they do, they should be ready to have a confrontation with ESN.

“ESN shall apply all necessary measures to facilitate the evacuation of terrorists and bandits in the uniform of the Nigerian Security Agencies out of the Biafra Region. Some of the people in these security uniforms are terrorists and criminals parading as state actors. ESN shall impose harsh punishment on any Biafran conniving with the Fulani herdsmen in land acquisition in the Southeast Region. Moreover, those individuals making money by pointing fingers at IPOB members to be abducted or killed by the Nigerian murderous Security Forces should be ready to be paid in the same coin.

“Finally, the global family of IPOB once again calls on the Nigerian Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans abducted by the Nigeria DSS, Army, and Police and detained unjustly. Self-determination is not a crime under any law in the world.

“IPOB shall never retreat nor surrender until Biafrans are given the right to vote in a referendum or exit Nigeria in some other way. God bless Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB Leadership for launching ESN to save our people from the Fulani bloody terrorists. God bless ESN Operatives for their bravery and sacrifices.”

Published by Charles Opanwa

Report: Killings, Abductions And Disappearances Aimed At Violently Seizing And Pocketing Criminal Billions By Police, Military And Armed Non-State Actors Took The Center Stage Of 2024 Christmas And 2025 New Year Holidays In The South-East

Report: Killings, Abductions And Disappearances Aimed At Violently Seizing And Pocketing Criminal Billions By Police, Military And Armed Non-State Actors Took The Center Stage Of 2024 Christmas And 2025 New Year Holidays In The South-East

Police and military seized at gunpoint and criminally pocketed N21.8billion (police N15billion and military N6.8billion) from South-East roadblock and barracks’ extortions in two months: Dec 2024-Jan 2025

Uga Junction and Atani Road Naval checkpoints most ‘lucrative’ in South-East; N600million (N1m per day) seized at gunpoint and criminally pocketed in two months (Dec 2024-Jan 2025) from at least ten extortion sources

Kidnappers seized N600million from defenseless abductees in 20 days: Dec 28-Jan 18 and N1.2billion in two months (Dec 2024-Jan 2025)

180 defenseless citizens killed in two months: 140 by armed non-state actors; and 40 others killed outside the law by military, police and killer-vigilantes

200 defenseless Southeasterners abducted in two months: 160 by armed non-state actors; and 40 others held outside the law and facing permanent disappearance by military, police and killer-vigilantes

Intersociety Report:

Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by EASTERN PILOT 

Nigerian Military Criminally Pocketed N6.8billion In Two Months: Dec-Jan:

The deployed personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force and their High Commands in the South-East are responsible for seizing under gunpoint not less than N21.8billion from motorists, other road users and those who came in contacts with them in their barracks between December 1, 2024, and Jan 31, 2025. The sum represented “criminal billions” drawn from direct and indirect roadblock and “barracks extortions”; numbering over twenty sources and seized from members of the civilian population with legitimate means of livelihood who were extorted while preparing or returning for 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays or extorted while heading back to their bases after the holidays. The findings above were derived from detailed research and investigation and their findings contained in the Intersociety’s December 22, 2024-Special International Report: “Ocean Of Innocent Blood Flowing In Eastern Nigeria”. The 282-Page Special International Report was unveiled in Enugu on December 22, 2024 at an international Press Conference. Not less than 19 pages (105-124) were set aside in the Report on police and military extortions and allied corrupt practices in Eastern Nigeria particularly in the South-East. The deployed security forces and their high commands were found to have mindlessly perpetrated the trio of armed state actor conduct-atrocities in the Region; namely: abductions, unlawful killings and corrupt practices of alarming proportion.

According to patterns and trends of these extortions studied by the Report, there are presently at least 300 direct military roadblocks, and 500 patrol teams or indirect roadblocks mounted on South-East roads-with 98% of them engaging in direct and indirect roadblocks extortions using publicly procured assault rifles and their ammunitions and patrol vans. These extortions and allied corrupt practices by military personnel are contrary to Section 108 of the Armed Forces Act of 2004 which prescribes fourteen years jail for any military personnel found involved in offense of extortion. The Report further found that average of N100,000 is illicitly pocketed daily by each of the military roadblocks; translating to N80m daily from 800 military roadblocks and patrol teams in the South-East or N2.4billion per month and N4.8billion in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025. Addition of N2billion was included and estimated to have arisen from “direct and indirect barracks extortions” and allied others-totaling N6.8billion, seized at gunpoint and illicitly pocketed from South-East motorists and allied others including those that encountered the military personnel in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025.

Further discovered were not less than ten sources of indirect military extortion in the South-East: with a clear case in point being patterns and trends of the corrupt practices of the officers and personnel of the Ogbaru Base of the Nigerian Navy at Onitsha and Ogbaru-the most lucrative military roadblock in the South-East; to the extent that not less than N1m is seized at gunpoint and criminally pocketed daily; translating to at least N600m in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025 by the Uga Junction Main Naval Checkpoint and three others located along Atani Road  and Harbor Industrial Layout in Ogbaru, Anambra State.

Nigeria Police Force Criminally Pocketed N15billion In Two Months: Dec-Jan

In the past two months under reference, the deployed officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and their high commands manning estimated 2,500 direct roadblocks and patrol teams or indirect roadblocks on South-East roads and allied others are found to have been responsible for seizing at gunpoint and criminally pocketing not less than N15billion from motorists, other road users and those that encountered the police authorities at their barracks. The breakdown of the above indicated that Imo State with highest number of police roadblocks and patrol teams (700) in the South-East accounted for N2.94billion in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025; on daily average of N49million (N70,000 per police roadblock), N1.47billion monthly and N2.94billion in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025.

 Anambra State, which presently maintains second largest police roadblocks and patrol teams in the Region with estimated 600, N42million was criminally pocketed daily, N1.26billion monthly and N2.52billion in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025. In Abia State with third largest police roadblocks and patrol teams of estimated 500 in the Region, N35million was criminally pocketed daily, N1.05billion monthly and N2.1billion in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025. In Enugu State with fourth largest police roadblocks and patrol teams of 400 in the Region, N28million was criminally pocketed daily, N840million monthly and N1.68billion in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025; and Ebonyi State with fifth largest police roadblocks in the Region of 300 police roadblocks and patrol teams, N21m was pocketed daily, N630m monthly and N1.26billion in two months of December and January 2025.

Addition of estimated N3.5billion was made, representing ‘criminal billions’ seized at gunpoint from those that encountered police authorities at police barracks including “bail fees” and monetization and commercialization of arrest, detention and criminal investigations as well as N1billion added as “dark figures of crimes”; totaling estimated N15billion; or N10.5billion arising from direct and indirect roadblock extortions plus N3.5billion arising from “Police Barracks Extortions” and N1billion arising from “dark figures of police corruption proceeds”; totaling N15billion. It must be informed that Police roadblock extortion in Nigeria particularly in the South-East is prohibited and criminalized by Section 99 of the Criminal Code Act of 2004 and Section 408 of the Penal Code Act of 2004; both of which prescribe jail terms of three-seven years; and three-fourteen years respectively.

Kidnappers Seized N600m In 20 Days (Dec 28-Jan 18) And N1.2b In Dec-Jan

Estimated N600million was seized at gunpoint from 2024 Christmas and January 2025 New Year holiday makers or returnees by armed non-state actors operating with assault rifles and criminal digital devices in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and others. The seizure of the estimated N600million by armed criminal syndicates affected more than 100 victims forced at gunpoint to pay the ransoms demanded, which heightened between December 28, 2024, and January 18, 2025; a period  that marked the peak of the two festivities during which members of many South-East families returned home for post-Christmas and New Year activities including burials, funerals, marriage ceremonies, town union meetings, etc. Among the five South-East States, the worst hit was Anambra where estimated N250million or more was seized from kidnap victims through their relatives, friends and associates; out of which Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas took the lead with not less than N150million including N35million paid at gunpoint by relatives and associates of a multimillionaire businessman between Ezinifite, Igboukwu and Uga on Dec 28, 2024; N16million (N8m each) paid at gunpoint by parents and other relatives of two siblings abducted on Dec 29, 2024 in the area and not less than N25m paid by relatives and associates of four others abducted same day in the area.

On Jan 16, 2025, another indigene of the area was abducted and released the next day after millions of naira found in his account was transferred out at gunpoint. On Dec 28, 2024, not less than five indigenes of Achina were targeted and abducted at a relaxation joint located between Amesi and Umuchu and held captive in kidnappers’ den for several days until their relatives and associates coughed out tens of millions of naira for their release. Elsewhere around Urum part of the State, a Reverend Father was abducted and later freed after his friends and associates paid N20million, during which a man who was held with him paid N10.3m. A United Kingdom-based businessman was abducted on Jan 10, 2025, at Amaokpala in Orumba North of Anambra State. He had returned for funeral service of his cousin and was freed after three days on payment of undisclosed millions of naira.  Before then, a lady banker was abducted on Dec 13, 2024, and held for days, and later killed and dumped by her captors along a popular roadside after sources said her abductors collected N25million ransom and went ahead to kill her. There were also two Catholic nuns abducted on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025, along Ufuma Road in Orumba North, and freed six days after, but it was unclear if ransoms were paid before they were released.  These are just to mention but a few.

 Kidnappers in the South-East also made Imo State the second worst hit State in twenty days of Dec 28, 2024 and January 18, 2025, during which not less than N150million was seized from kidnap victims at gunpoint; followed by Enugu State with estimated N100million including tens of millions of naira strongly believed to have been seized by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen from freed victims of three 18-Seater busloads of passengers abducted at Enugu-Ezike in Igbo Eze North of Enugu State on Thursday, Jan 9, 2025 involving at least 40 passengers. The passengers were traveling to Kogi and nearby northern parts when they were abducted and held for days by the Jihadists during which their mobile phones and other valuables were seized and dispossessed; and all the monies in their accounts transferred out. Parents and associates of some of the victims were also believed to have hurriedly transferred tens of millions of naira to have their loved ones freed.

Abia and Ebonyi States also grappled with kidnap-for-ransom particularly along their highways, urban centers and farmlands by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, communal warlords and allied others; accounting for not less than N100million under 20 days of December 28, 2024, and January 18, 2025. In all, nothing less than N600million was lost to Jihadist kidnappers and others drawn from Counterfeit Biafra Agitators and “street criminal entities” thriving in kidnapping syndicates in 20 days of December 28, 2024, and January 18, 2025. Generally, nothing less than N1.2billion was most likely to have been lost to kidnappers by defenseless South-Easterners in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025 in the Region.

 180 Defenseless Civilians Killed In Two Months (Dec 2024 And Jan 2025)

By our findings derived from our December 22, 2024, Special International Report (“Ocean Of Innocent Blood Flowing In Eastern Nigeria”: 282 Pages, not less than 180 defenseless citizens of the South-East were attacked and killed in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025. The breakdown shows that armed non-state actors took responsibility for at least 140 defenseless civilian deaths; during which Imo State was the worst hit with not less than 70 deaths, followed by Anambra with at least 40 deaths and Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi accounting for the remaining 30 deaths. Among the not less than seventy  defenseless civilian deaths recorded in the hands of armed non-state actors in Imo State, at least 45 including women and children were killed in four communities in Orsu Local Government Area where many of them were mowed down and inflicted with savagely matchet cuts and gun attacks.

 Their gruesome murder had taken place between Jan 5 and 8, 2025, during which, according to eyewitnesses spoken to by the Intersociety, eighteen defenseless persons including women and children were mowed down in Ihitenansa, eight in Eziawa, nine in Umuhu-Okabia, six in Ebenato and one person in Awo-Idemmili. The killings have since continued including killing of at least two persons on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in Orsu-Ihiteukwa part of the Local Government Area. In Anambra State, the not less than 40 killed included at least ten in Ihiala on December 30, 2024; during which a Reverend Father was days earlier shot and killed in the area. A female banker was also among those killed in the State during the period as well as scores of others abducted by kidnappers and killed in their dens.

 The security forces including military personnel, police crack squads and sub-state actor killer vigilantes accounted for not less than 40 civilian deaths across the South-East during the period. The 40 civilian deaths in the hands of the security forces represented those killed outside the law or due process and their killings ‘weaponized’ to justify their atrocious killing. Among them are not less than eight recently killed in Imo State by police crack squads and another eight killed by the Anambra Vigilante Service on Tuesday, Jan 28, 2025 in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State; in addition to scores of others abducted by military personnel and police crack squads  who are unlikely to come back alive.

200 Defenseless Civilians Abducted In December 2024 And January 2025:

The Nigerian Security Forces (military personnel, police crack squads and sub-state actor killer vigilantes), the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and allied others, ‘Street Violent Criminal Entities’ and armed Counterfeit Biafra Agitators have separately been responsible for abduction of no fewer than 200 members of the South-East civilian population across the Region in the past two of December 2024 and January 2025; out of which about 160 were abducted by armed non-state actors and 40 others abducted and taken to unknown destinations outside the knowledge of their families and official records. Many of the 40 security forces abductees were those taken away outside the law by military personnel while the remaining ones got missing in the hands of police crack squads. It must be clarified that killing members of civilian population or unarmed citizens suspected to have offended criminal law, before or after their arrest is a serious criminal offense in Nigeria and under international law. Weaponization of crime detection and law enforcement operations is also a serious criminal offense; likewise, killings involving sub-state actor vigilantes disempowered by law to kill, detain, investigate and prosecute. Arresting civilian citizens and taking them away without the knowledge of their families and outside official records clearly amount to enforced disappearances which could lead to extrajudicial, extra jus and extralegal executions.

Further, the breakdown of the abduction of estimated 160 defenseless civilians of the South-East Trado-Judeo-Christian faith and extraction by armed non-state actors across the South-East in the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025 included estimated 60 abducted in Anambra State, 50 abducted in Imo State, 40 abducted in Enugu State and the rest abducted in other parts of the South-East. Also observed was the fact that more than 95% of the 160 abductees by armed non-state actors were forced to pay ransoms through their relatives, friends and associates. In Anambra State where at least 60 were abducted, Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South accounted for not less than 30 including a retired Anglican Bishop, two Catholic nuns, seven persons abducted between Ezinifite, Igboukwu and Uga, six persons abducted between Amesi and Umuchu, one abducted at Amaokpala, etc.  Imo State with not less than 50 abductees included those abducted for ransom along the State’s highways and its troubled local government areas and communities. In Enugu State with at least 40 abductees, the most noticeable was the abduction on January 13, 2025 of at least 40 travelers by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Enugu-Ezike part of the Igbo Eze Local Government Area.

 There is likelihood of others representing “dark figures of crime” involving unrecorded victims abducted by Jihadists and other criminal entities on their way to 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays or while returning back from to their bases from the same particularly along the highways. Other victims were those recorded in the remaining parts of the South-East especially along their highways.

 Signed:

For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety)

Emeka Umeagbalasi, M.Sc.

Criminologist and Graduate of Security Studies

Board Chair, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

 Chinwe Umeche Esquire (LL. B, BL)

Head, Democracy and Good Governance Program

International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

 Chidinma Udegbunam Esquire (LL. B, BL)

Head, Campaign and Publicity

International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

 Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esquire (LL. B, BL)

Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

Digital Contacts: 

Mobile/WhatsApp Lines: +2348174090052

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://intersociety-ng.org

 Further References: 

1.       Digital Link To Our Mother Report: “Ocean Of Innocent Flowing In Eastern Nigeria”: https://intersociety-ng.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NIGERIA-OCEAN-OF-INNOCENT-BLOOD-FLOWING-IN-THE-EAST-oringinal_11zon.pdf

2.       Digital Link To The Executive Summary Of “Ocean Of Innocent Blood Flowing In Eastern Nigeria”: https://intersociety-ng.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Executive-Summary-Of-Ocean-Of-Innocent-Blood-Flowing-In-The-East.pdf

 3. Digital Link To Our Human Rights Handbook: “Human Rights Made In Nigeria”: https://intersociety-ng.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HUMAN-RIGHT-MADE-IN-NIGERIE_compressed.pdf

 4.  Digital Link To The International Joint Solidarity Statement By 27 International Human Rights Experts And Other Respected Persons/Groups Backing The Reports: 

https://intersociety-ng.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/International-Press-Release.pdf

Stay of Execution: When Justice Decides to Take a Nap

 Stay of Execution: When Justice Decides to Take a Nap

Let us break down this mystery called "stay of execution"and expose the Nigerian judiciary's knack for turning logic upside down. Shall we? 

Imagine a teacher in a classroom after an exam and subsequent suspicion that one of his student cheated during the exams after investigations concluded that he did and then announces, “Ugo, you did not cheat in the exam!  You are free to go home.” Just as Ugo grabs his bag to leave the staff room, another teacher barges in and declares, “Not so fast, Ugo! You will stay back until we are absolutely sure, the first teacher was too generous.” Ugo sits there, confused and frustrated and while the second obsessed teacher scampers all over the place looking for non-existent incriminating evidence against a student whom has been cleared of any malpractice or wrongdoing. 

This is exactly what the Nigerian judiciary has done to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. After the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged him, one would expect the next step to be simple: open the gates of captivity and let the man go.But no! The government, with the blessing of some rather deceptively creative judges, slapped on a "stay of execution," leaving conscious minds pondering helplessly and asking, “Where is this done?

Let's not pretend this is about justice anymore. In civilized countries, a stay of execution is used sparingly. It is meant to pause a decision temporarily in complex cases where acting too quickly could cause irreversible harm. For instance: 

- If a man is sentenced to death and new evidence comes up, you stay the execution to review the case.  

- If a house is set to be demolished, you stay the execution to ensure no one’s rights are trampled upon. 

But in Kanu’s case, the court said he’s innocent. Innocent! Unguilty as charged. What’s left to pause? Are they waiting for the sun to rise from the west? Or are they expecting the judgment to rewrite itself?   

The Nigerian judiciary operates like a palm wine tapper who climbs a tree only to cut it down while still on it. They delivered a judgment, only to block its implementation. What’s the point of wearing those flowing black robes if they’re going to treat their own laws and judicial pronouncements like a child’s toy?  

Justice Tsnami’s infamous order granting a stay of execution is a perfect example of how the law can be twisted to fit political agendas. The Appeal Court judges themselves said the government’s actions were reckless, illegal, and an abuse of power by the act of international terrorism for kidnapping and extraordinarily renditioning Mr Kanu from Kenya. Yet here we are  months later, still waiting for someone to wake up and enforce the judgment. 

This is the level of absurdity and judicial obscuriry we are forced to face in a country described most western pundits and statesmen as "the largest democracy in Africa". The judiciary, instead of being the defender of the people, has become a puppet show where strings are pulled by invisible hands.  

Mr Kanu’s recently offered N1 million to any law student who can find a precedent for his detention under the context of the "stay of execution" counter order. If Nigeria’s legal system were a student, it would fail this exam miserably. No law book anywhere supports keeping an already acquitted person in detention. But in Nigeria, common sense is not common, and the rule of law has been replaced with the rule of “wait and see.”  

Even the Constitution, the supposed supreme law of the land, has been reduced to mere decoration. Section 287(1) and (3), which mandates obedience to court orders, might as well be written on toilet paper. After all, in Nigeria, “the law is an ass” and the judiciary seems determined to ride it straight into the mud.  

  

The Nigerian judiciary is fast becoming a global comedy show. While Kanu sits in detention, the rest of us are left to wonder: Is justice still alive, or has it gone on indefinite leave? 

If this is how justice is served, then we’re all at the mercy of a system that values politics over principles and rule of law. And, those unfortunate enough to find themselves in Nigeria are doomed. 

In the words of an Igbo proverb: **“When the lizard nods its head, it isn’t always in agreement; sometimes it’s just mocking the one watching.”** Perhaps that is what the Nigerian judiciary is doing nodding at justice while laughing behind its back. However, if human-induced justice fails to discharge its duties, the rigid nature's justice system will,  and there shall be no manipulation of nature's justice. 

Family Writers Press International.

The Tenacity of IPOB: A Lesson in Discipline Amidst a Sea of Deceit

  The Tenacity of IPOB: A Lesson in Discipline Amidst a Sea of Deceit  

There’s a certain beauty in watching a well-oiled machine run flawlessly, even when its driver is unjustly detained. Such is the story of IPOB, a movement that has mastered the art of navigating storms without losing direction. In the absence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB has continued to hold its structure firm, unshaken by the destructive ploys of the Nigerian state. This is a tale worth telling, especially when compared to the violent theatrics of Simon Ekpa's faction a group seemingly born to disgrace every principle of struggle and humanity.

  

Despite Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's prolonged and unjust detention, IPOB has demonstrated resilience that even their detractors secretly admire. They have skillfully resisted the Nigerian government’s attempts to provoke them into violence a trap laid with the precision of a spider weaving its web. Instead of succumbing, IPOB has stuck to its ethos of non-violence, gaining respect and recognition across the globe.  

Unlike their violent counterparts, IPOB’s non-violent approach has earned its members the liberty to operate freely in virtually every corner of the world. Take Finland, for instance a land of law, order, and snowy neutrality. IPOB was legally registered, it's members freely gather, strategize, and promote their cause without fear of persecution. In contrast, Simon Ekpa’s group cannot even hold a public meeting in the same Finland, where their leader languishes in prison. Yes, the self-styled “autopilot” was grounded for violent agitation a charge he has never denied.  

Let’s pause for a moment to appreciate the irony of Simon Ekpa’s predicament. Here is a man who styled himself as the Moses of Biafra, yet he managed to lead his followers straight into the Red Sea of global disgrace. Ekpa’s violent approach has alienated even his host country, Finland a nation that prides itself on granting asylum to the oppressed. His incarceration is a vivid reminder that while the world tolerates dissent, it has no patience for chaos masquerading as revolution.  

It’s almost laughable how Ekpa’s followers continue to drum support for a man who has single-handedly tarnished the image of Biafra. If Ekpa truly had the wisdom of leadership, would he not have mastered the delicate art of advancing a cause without turning it into a circus of violence? While IPOB seeks dialogue and diplomacy, Ekpa’s faction revels in destruction, leaving a trail of burnt markets and shattered lives.  

The Nigeria government’s attempts to discredit IPOB would be comical if they weren’t so tragic. From labeling the movement as terrorists to infiltrating it with agents provocateurs, the state has thrown every dirty trick in the book at IPOB. Yet, like a phoenix, IPOB rises each time, stronger and more focused.  

Their secret? Wisdom. IPOB has understood that the battle for Biafra is not just a physical one but a global war of narratives. While Simon Ekpa’s faction feeds the Nigerian government’s propaganda machine with images of chaos, IPOB counters with a message of peace, justice, and self-determination.  

In the end, the contrast between IPOB and Simon Ekpa’s faction boils down to discipline and vision. IPOB has proven that a struggle rooted in wisdom and non-violence can withstand even the fiercest storms. Simon Ekpa, on the other hand, serves as a cautionary tale for those who mistake chaos for revolution.  

Let it be known that while IPOB continues to win hearts and minds across the globe, Ekpa’s faction remains a footnote in the annals of failed agitators. Perhaps the greatest irony is that while Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains unjustly detained, his vision has set IPOB free—free to operate, free to dream, and free to march toward the dawn of Biafra.  

As for Simon Ekpa and his violent band, they are free too—free to stew in the consequences of their actions, free to reflect on the wisdom of non-violence, and, of course, free to remain behind bars in Finland. Some freedom, after all, are self-inflicted. 

Family Writers Press International

Is The Finnish Government Involved In The Conspiracy Of Terrorism Ongoing In Biafraland

 Is The Finnish Government Involved In The Conspiracy Of Terrorism Ongoing In Biafraland 

The once peaceful Eastern Nigeria is now being systematically targeted to become a zone where tears fall like shadows on crumbling streets, where safety's promise is a hollow beat.

The government's hand, meant to shield and protect, now fuels the flames that our futures inspect. 

The Nigerian government extraordinary rendition’s dark deed against the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, exposes the Western government's dual creed—justice in words, tyranny in deeds. 

The West where Finland belongs, has been the abode of a Nigerian government sponsored agent provocateur, whose acts of deceptions ever since the illegal rendition of Kanu to Nigeria took flesh, had become a cancer, attempting to erode the fabrics and prospects of the pacifist and self-determination agitation and campaigns championed by the IPOB movement, turning their legitimate grievances into sensationalized spectacle to the point that the line between genuine activism and manufactured mayhem is being blurred especially to passive/non conscious minds, leaving well-intentioned individuals vulnerable to exploitation. 

Simon Ekpa, as a Finnish resident underscores his amenable bound to the Finnish Constitutions and Laws. 

And is by law, has no immunity whatsoever from prosecution by the Finnish government, when a clear evident corroboration of his criminal and terror conduct exists in the public domains. He was arrested sometimes by the Finnish authorities in early 2023 on charges related to his terrorism in Eastern Nigeria but was subsequently discharged and his casefile suspended indefinitely. 

Raising a serious question about the involvement of the Finnish government in connivance with the Nigerian government to permit his reign and projection of terror from their soil. According to recent findings, trade turnout between Finland-Nigeria has skyrocketed since 2022, reaching a whopping of 47% in the past from an all-time low figure less than 10% in yester years. 

The Finland based agent provocateur had been said to be appointed by the IPOB leader, to join in broadcasting and awareness creation for Biafra freedom through the Radio Biafra London platform, after his tragic ordeal and extraordinary rendition from Kenya, but got laid off after he refused to cooperate with the required vetting and induction protocols instituted within IPOB and Radio Biafra. 

His criminal and sinister tendencies was spotted by the IPOB Leadership from the onset and as such fiercely resisted. He was never allowed near the IPOB Leadership, the radio Biafra platform or even the closest IPOB family in his country of residence, Finland. 

Nevertheless, he whom the IPOB leader intended to take in a brother's guiding hand, now wields a destructive brand of terror against the people whose struggle and interests serve as the locomotive lubricant fueling the Biafra agitation. No noble cause in sight, Only darkness, endless reign of destruction. A typical disposition and characteristic of an agent provocateur. 

Like Cain's dark legacy, he rose against his brothers, unprovoked.

He employed several techniques in other to sway his agenda into the very formidable IPOB movement, but failed miserably. 

He began to call for unprepared arms struggle which is contrary to the guided approach of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB). His call and hit-and-run cowardly attacks on Nigeria military, police and other sister security formations in Biafraland only quadrupled their presence there, leaving the innocent citizens who are already being exploited for years by the aforementioned, to bear the brunt. 

The Biafra restoration movement fostered by the IPOB family, worldwide, is rooted in the discipline and principles of peaceful insistence on demanding for a United Nation supervised referendum for the Biafran people. 

Judging from the peaceful rallies, radio broadcasts and online engagements from the members of IPOB, demanding for their right to self-determination, on no account had they resorted to violence against the Nigerian State, nor its own people in the South East Nigeria having the fore understanding that one cannot kill and suppress the same people they’re fighting to defend. 

Having the testimonial and prognostic afflictions of the Fulani herders (Miyetti Allah), whose modus operandi has been to kill, maim, rape, abduct and destroy the hard-earned works of farmers in/across Nigeria especially in Biafraland, IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu launched a security outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN) across the South East, tasked with protecting and repelling the marauding Fulani elements within its Bushes. 

Under the very directive of the IPOB leadership, they had stayed only and true to this primary assignment - within the bushes of the South East region, working vigorously as a vigilante group, in protection of their own people. 

Ekpa claimed to have taken control of ESN. But he had lied— all to derail the very essence of IPOB’s heroic efforts in the South East. 

IPOB had made it compendiously clear on several occasions through press statements that Mr. Ekpa does not belong to IPOB. He has no membership recognition in the IPOB organization, and as such has no right to speak on behalf of IPOB. His actions cannot be attributed to the IPOB movement. 

Its presence in over 150 countries of the world, IPOB is duly recognized and respected to be the representatives championing the Biafra struggle for self-determination. 

What whispered secrets corrupted the code of comprehension, to the effect that after the indictment of Mr. Ekpa by the Finnish Central Criminal Police for his numerous incitements and sponsorship of terrorism in Eastern Nigeria, was released and the case with-held since the February of 2023? Even Finnish investigative journalists came for a fact-finding mission to ascertain the truth about his destructive activities. They confirmed the authenticity of the crimes being committed from their soil 

A pregnant woman was murdered, and her innocent premature fetus poured on the floors, Laborers were chased from the places of work, students tortured and vehicles burnt under the very inhumane directive of Mr. Ekpa, carried out by his contracted hoodlums all in the name of enforcing a non-existent Sit-At-Home order. 

Videos has been uploaded and circulating on the internet, several petitions written, and rallies done in various forms to convey the message of grievances to the Finnish government, now led by @alexstubb, to invoke your criminal code of conducts on the person of Ekpa. 

The Nigerian government has paid deaf ears to cries of the people of the East, across streets and towns, why is the Finnish government harbouring a known criminal and a terrorist within their borders? 

This has come to the forefront of human understanding, that the Finnish government is complicit in the predicaments of the Eastern people, inflicted by Ekpa. They have been induced with juicy deals by the Nigerian state to turn a blind eye on the destruction in the South-East. Biafrans must come to this reality and collectively unite to combat this global conspiracy against us, and our region. Deflecting attention and false accusations will not solve any problem. Objective analysis and decisive actions is required. And all sincere hands must be on deck. A stitch in time saves nine. 

Family Writers Press International.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Detention And The Hardship In Nigeria

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu IPOB leader

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Detention And The Hardship In Nigeria 

By Eluwa Chidiebere Chinazu | Biafra Writers

October 27, 2024

Before the illegal detention of the Biafran leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on 27th June, 2021, many Nigerians harbored the belief that the Biafran leader was in all facets a great impediment to Nigeria's growth. Kanu was blamed for Nigeria's woes and hated by those who upheld and nurtured the faith of a workable Nigeria - a faith that many see as mirage through Kanu's brilliant expositions on Radio Biafra. 

Upon Kanu's arrest, Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the then President Buhari, accused Kanu of inflicting hardship on Nigerians. With this statement from Garba Shehu, Nigerians were in high spirits, hoping for the best since the bad egg is in detention. Unfortunately, they got the worst after arresting their supposed "Mr. Hardship" called Nnamdi Kanu.

From the religious view, Nigeria is currently nothing less than a curse. In comity of nations, Nigeria is a perfect example of a failed state. People no longer canvas for infrastructural developments, rather their main problem is food. 

To say that Nigeria is bereaved of success is not exaggeration. Nigeria lacks the gumption to salvage the economic meltdown that has befallen it. The depth of Nigeria's debt causes goose bumps to her citizens. Nigeria is already on her knees.

Hunger has really humbled Nigerians. The wise words of Nnamdi Kanu are rapidly coming to fruition. It was the devastated situation of Somalia that gave rise to the phrase "failed state" in 1991, now that there is a country worse than the then Somalia, what phrase do we coin from Nigeria deplorable situation.

Edited by Nelson Ofokar Yagazie

Why IPOB/ESN Is Being Targeted By The Nigerian Army And Their Man-Proxy In Finland

 Why IPOB/ESN Is Being Targeted By The Nigerian Army And Their Man-Proxy In Finland

The hassle with which Nigerian Army and its cooperative conventional media(s) rush to pin on the Indigenous People Of Biafra movement and the Eastern Security Network, every crime perpetrated by Ekpa and his criminal elements in Southeast, even when Ekpa openly claims responsibility of these crimes via his official verified X handle, does not surprise any conscious fellow and we believe it should not surprise anyone either. Unless, one is ignorant of the game being played by the Nigerian government and its military. 

Over the past 3 years, Simon Ekpa have claimed to have attacked Nigerian military checkpoints in different occasions and locations across southeast and claimed responsibility of them on several intervals during his live broadcasts. 

But you know what? The Nigerian army and media have refused till date to attribute these crimes to him and his goons squarely. Instead they continued to pin them on IPOB/ESN. Irrespective of how IPOB and other independent, investigative sources on the ground such as reports from the human rights organizations , Intersociety group has evidently established that IPOB/ESN has no hands in the insecurity or attacks on the Nigeria military formations in the South-East. 

It is popularly said that to kill an innocent dog, it must be given a bad name to justify its slaughter. This is what both Ekpa and his Nigerian sponsors are doing. The Nigerian government have tried in so many ways to present IPOB as a violent movement before the international community but it has failed precipitously over and over again. 

They could not match IPOB versatility and outreach in the international community. IPOB has continued explain to the global audience with empirical evidence about her non violence status, approach and dispositions towards Biafra self-determination quest and goal. 

Before the Nigerian government arrives at any international office, country as the case maybe, to submit these blackmailing reports against IPOB or to induce benign officials there to mainstream their spurious narratives, IPOB would have already submitted a comprehensive unbiased report of the corrupt activities, crimes and lies of Nigerian government to these offices, and further poising them to go on to conduct their own investigations via their own assets on the ground, if any. 

Obviously, Nigeria have bribed and bought over few officials of some reputable international organizations to help them in their campaign of designating IPOB as a violent organization globally but it all ended up without any headway being made as their was no viable pretext or grounds for such, even under the laws of these respective countries or international law. 

We must recall the National Institute For Peace In USA, and Tony Blair Institute whom  passively highlighted or rather aimed at projecting IPOB as a violent movement in 2022 and this was inputed in the annual global terrorism index which the contributed to. This was the handiwork of the Nigerian government and of course certain elements within the US and United Kingdom governments. 

Though, they retracted their claims after they could not prove with concrete evidence that IPOB was guilty as charged, judging from their own biased reports. IPOB on the other hand threatened legal actions if they fail to recluse IPOB from the global terrorism list. 

They have tried everything and exhausted their plans to break the IPOB global family,  her finances, her illegal incarcerated Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, or even lure the ESN tasked to confront Fulani terrorists in Biafraland into an unprepared war with the Nigerian armed forces, but to no avail. 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has made a mess of the Nigerian government even in their own courts, the IPOB family survived the storm and is waxing strong globally. The ESN as seen and acknowledged by all and sundry – including those in the military circles – continues to enhance its tactical capabilities even amidst provocations to lure or distract them from their primary assignment of wading off Fulani terrorists from Biafra forests or bushes. 

So the only viable card left to hold on to, is by keeping the agent provocateur alive and kicking as he would serve as the odds to apparently keep IPOB on their toes and on the defensive, while he wrecks havoc that would compel the members of the Biafran public to develop animosity towards the Biafra struggle due to the criminality and violence it has seemingly brought on them. 

Besides, should IPOB succeed in achieving Biafra restoration sooner or later, there will always be a need for the imperialists or enemy close neighbors to sponsor a 'pseudo opposition', that would oppose the Biafra Republic and its eventual leadership. This is why Mr Ekpa is untouchable and even the Finnish Government who arrested him in early 2023 for serious crimes bordering fraud etc, all of a sudden stood down and his casefile was closed indefinitely till this moment. 

So anytime you see Nigerian Army making accusations in their press statement against IPOB/ESN, be assured that Ekpa and his goons have carried out another scripted operation to keep the propaganda and blackmail momentum level high and afloat. 

To set the record straight, this latest attack on soldiers in Mbanọ is a false flag operation to blackmail IPOB as usual. In as much as IPOB and the entire Igbo nation opposes the sinister plot of importing refugees from the north to the East. The violence in Ehime Mbanọ is a false flag operation to blackmail IPOB and to keep the insecurity in Imo state, spiking and escalating. IPOB did not claim responsibility for the burning of the site chosen to host these northern refugees nor the house of Senator Ibezim. Mr Ekpa did and he is not an IPOB member or of ESN. 

Had these structures not being torched. The result would still be the same, there would be no refugees camp in the South-East. The people in cooperation with IPOB would have made sure of it. And the ongoing ensuing violence, military bombardment and ransacking in Ehime Mbanọ would not be in the picture as has sadly obtained now. 

The ultimate aim is to set IPOB against the people or as being responsible for the violence just as obtained in the Aba 30th May Biafra Fallen heroes remembrance day incident. To breach the trust, adherence and listenership Biafrans have for the directives of the IPOB movement. Knowing fully well that they would not betray nor jeopardize their interests and overall well-being. 

Thus, we will continue to debunk and expose their lies, and educate our people to know and understand who is their enemies and how they operate to make our region unsafe for us and why their must be a concerted effort to resist and wade off their machinations against us as a people.

Family Writers Press Internat

IPOB Struggle For Self-Determination Would Have Crumbled If It Was Money-Centered

 IPOB Struggle For Self-Determination Would Have Crumbled If It Was Money-Centered

Recently, the Nigerian Chief Of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa in an interview with one of Nigeria's TV station (TVC News) opined that the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB) Movement and her struggle for self-détermination and independent state of Biafra from Nigeria is parochial and money driven, has nothing to do with agitation against marginalization. But of course, this is obviously a clear display of an ignorance borne out of incompetence, or it's a deliberate derogation of an Indigenous people's noble quest. 

In Mr Christopher very own words; "They (IPOB) are doing for their own selves, a lot of them are doing it for the money they are making. They are not fighting for any region, they are fighting for themselves." 

It is imperative to buttress that the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB) movement is non-violent. And as such obtains the funds  for her activities via peaceful means; more precisely, via crowdfunding by active members of the movement all over the world and supporters who deem it important to support the struggle for emancipation against the marginalization being meted against Ndigbo(Biafrans). This has been true for IPOB since inception in 2012. 

IPOB adopted the crowdfunding technique of Dee Sam Mbakwe, the late former governor of Imo State whose efforts gave birth to the first International airport in the South-East after the Biafra genocidal war of 1967-70. 

After 1970, the Federal Government of Nigeria refused to commit to any developmental, infrastructural project in the region they bombed into oblivion for 30 months. Thus, the governor at his time passionately implored every household, community, indigene and clan not only in Imo State but across South East to generously crowdfund the construction of the airport in the state from ground zero till its final completion. Making it arguably the only project of such magnitude and calibre in the world, to become a reality under such community-based circumstances. 

The freedom movement adopted this method since her methodology to Biafra restoration is intentionally inspired to avoid a repetition of belligerence over the Biafra quest, as much as possible. Thus, under such circumstances the movement cannot tax the people to fund struggle for Biafra self-détermination quest. 

Secondly, such restraint of non-violence approach to agitation hinders the IPOB movement from getting distracted unto exerting control over natural resources obtained abundantly in Biafraland, which would undoubtedly provoke an inflow of more Nigerian armed forces into the peaceful region, and could undermine the position of IPOB as a non-violent group. And, had that been the case, logic dictates that IPOB under such situation would be compelled to engage the militarily and other Nigerian armed forces in defense of their lots and position on those natural resources. But that never served as the Movement's source of income and funds generation. Yet the movement has kept alive and and hardly kicking. 

So, on this premises, IPOB choose to crowdfund her way out of oppression, having learnt from the outstanding precedence set by Dee Sam Mbakwe. Though, the intensity of the projects in question when juxtaposed are incomparable and humongous. Nevertheless, for IPOB, it has to be done, and there is no other way. Infact, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the IPOB movement who is still currently being incarcerated in Nigeria popularly maintained before his abduction that only the IPOB global family will fund the movement for Biafra restoration until its achievement. 

And, the IPOB Leadership has disciplined themself to stay on this course, amidst pressing challenges which arose after the IPOB Leader was abducted and extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya in 2021. Events which led to the confiscation, grounding of the IPOB international account in Germany, which in it housed generous contributions from members of the global IPOB family. 

It must be acknowledged that after the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, many elements sprung up and tried to inject, hijack, divert the IPOB-Biafra struggle into a money-making venture. Some of whom went as far as using insecurity to indirectly tax unsuspecting members of the people, kidnapping, looting and siezing properties of the people. The IPOB leadership decried certain elements using its name unbeknownst to them to go solicit for funds from political figures in various levels in Nigeria and they (IPOB Leadership) constantly denounced such, maintaining that the IPOB movement does not operate in such manner. 

All of which ongoing is said to have been a covert operation, an orchestration sponsored by the Nigerian government, its security and intelligence agencies to either compel IPOB into making hard decisions and compromising on her modus operandi in terms of financial sustenance or/and to dispel and discourage contributors all over the world in the IPOB family to discontinue their inputs, thus leading to the collapse of the movement. There was also a plan to turn the people in the homeland against the leadership of IPOB movement as a consequence of the impersonation, criminality which its perpetrators hides under the name of IPOB or Biafra agitation to commit against the people.

Though all these have failed, as non of the objectives were attained to any reasonable or substantial extent, the orchestrators are not stopping. And, this explains the recent commentaries of the Nigerian Defence Cheif. The agenda is still much alive. The IPOB movement survived the financial sabotage at its heart since 2021 because its contingency plan - the IPOB global family - did not falter and abandoned the struggle and movement, even when there were pseudo, man-made or rather enemies' covertly sponsored reasons to do so. 

Now, the Nigerian Defence Cheif (CDS) is out to resurrect and project this agenda, showing that the government is far from seeking detente with the IPOB movement or the Biafra quest for self-détermination, contrary to the rhetorics of few uniformed fellows who thinks or believes they have been assured of a negotiated conclusive end in favor of all. 

The only thing hindering the agenda of demonizing IPOB in the eyes of the people is the institutionalized hate and phobia against the people of Eastern Nigeria - Ndigbo/Biafrans. The Nigerian government institutions, including its armed forces cannot help this as it is congenital, but continues to pursue the goal of destroying IPOB which is widely viewed by the people as a dome of defense and an output medium to mainstream their plight to the global community. This is why the agenda is failing and cannot hold. 

The IPOB movement has undergone through very stiff challenges but has stayed true to its conviction and principles. It has refused to be compelled to change course. And even when planted elements from the within attempted to become willing tools, they were expelled immediately. Such discipline and passion is a precedence that is feared and is clear for targeting in the eyes of the powers that be. 

Therefore, it is worth noting that the IPOB struggle for self-determination would have crumbled if it was money-centered, as claimed by Nigerian Chief Of Defense Staff. 

But rather, the struggle for Biafra restoration is divine and ordained. It is the only hope and contingency for the people of East. This is why the people - whom by the way, funds it - will never abandon nor repel it, no matter the attempts or orchestrations of the government. So, it is time for the opposing parties to come to this indisputable reality and take the necessary steps.

A referendum is not a death sentence. It is a voting process to resolve a political solution through a popular will of the people. Use it! 

Family Writers Press International

Kanu's Wife Faults Agenda To Relocate Northern IDPs To East, Says It Alters The Demography And Security Of Indigenes

  Kanu's Wife Faults Agenda To Relocate Northern IDPs To East, Says It Alters The Demography And Security Of Indigenes 

Lolo Uchechi Okwu-Kanu

Lolo Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife to the incarcerated Leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra movement, has condemned the collaborative plans between the federal government and elements of Imo State political juggernauts primarily the governor,  to relocate internally displaced people (IDPs) from the northern region to Nsu, ehime mbano Okigwe, Imo State under an alleged rehabilitation program for these refugees whom were displaced by terrorism that has bedeviled the north for over a decade.

Lolo Uchechi stated that while it is a plausible humanitarian initiative, there are other factors which should be put into serious consideration which according to her was not factored by those who agreed to the deal and are already in the conclusive inspecting stage of the site for the said program. 

"Dear conscious ladies and gentlemen.

Providing a camping site or home for Refugees/Internally Displaced People or Persons as the case may be is a humanitarian aid." 

"It is an act of #SelfPreservation. But have you heard of #Alterate-#SelfPreservation? 

"The conscious people of Nsu in Ehime Mbanọ must refuse this unbridled and unchecked process by @Hope_Uzodimma1 as this could be a Trojan Horse due to the long standing incongruity between us and the Fulanis. And the fact that it is unchecked and unbridled begs for scrutiny", she argued. 

Stating that taking to account the Fulanisation agenda through terrorism which has been projected by the Fulanis using state machineries and the subsequent resistance by the east through the IPOB movement and the ESN,  this planned rehab program could be an advanced infiltration scheme which would be exploited as time goes on, at the detriment of the security of the Indigenous populations of the East. 

Moreso, she questioned why the site chosen for the rehab program is a tertiary institution built for studies contrary to the principles and standards of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), arguing why suitable places and installations in the north and other parts of the country lying moribund were not chosen for the program.  

"During my Master Degree level, I did mapping and scenario simulations under a Disaster Recovery Module which the UNHCR uses." 

"There are considerable factors when mapping a displacement site for IDPs as it's temporary.  Following the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency process flow maps." 

"But the problem with #Africans and #Nigerians especially, is that they copy everything for show off purposes with no innate desire for understanding." 

"These displacement sites are usually built and run by governments, @UN agencies or international organizations and NGOs, but there could also be spontaneous sites but never a SCHOOL BUILDING where students are receiving studies for crying out loud." 

"The commissioner said they went round the building and it is ok for what they intend to do. Therefore, the vulnerable persons will share the laboratories with the University students? My goodness me, Make it make sense please." 

The National Commissioner for Refugee, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons did not see the abandoned factory site near the government's reserved centers if you are headed to Kaduna through the road that leads to Jos from Nasarrawa? The only place they found is the NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY in Nsu Imo State.

What happens to Kano?

What is wrong with Abuja?

He said the government is making efforts to begin training of this vulnerable people in acquiring skills to reduce unemployment." 

"What is Nigeria's attainment statistics amongst other countries in creating employment for her citizens? She asked.

"On the long standing incongruity between the Igbos and the Fulanis, the hatred they hold for Ndigbo (Igbo people). You needed to map that first, the safety of the (host)  residents must come first. It is the number one factor to consider when mapping a displacement site. And must also consider the affected communities.

Is Imo State not already in turmoil as insecurity festers?" 

She surmised that not only is this initiative unsustainable in the sense that the facility in question is built specifically for tertiary education and as such not suitable for the program but also the security, demography of the people and region will be threatened in the long-term. Hence, these displaced persons should be hosted and rehabilitated in some other parts of the country. 

"You are disrupting the tutoring and academic continuity of the students and their environment. You are demographically altering our place.

The people you are bringing do not need the university lecture room (it is a tertiary level) for their acquisition skill program."

"These displaced persons should be taken to the other parts of the country."

Family Writers Press International

Ethnic Profiling in Nigeria: The Igbo Struggle for Survival Amid Targeted Harassment

 Ethnic Profiling in Nigeria: The Igbo Struggle for Survival Amid Targeted Harassment

One of the most pressing issues facing Nigeria today is the persistent ethnic profiling and targeted persecution of the Igbo people. The Igbo, one of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups, are widely known for their entrepreneurial spirit and resilience, but they have also been victims of deep-seated animosity and discrimination within the country. Ethnic profiling against Igbos has become increasingly visible in the years following Nigeria’s civil war and has escalated to a point where many Ndigbo(Igbo People) have come to question their place in the Nigerian state. These experiences of harassment and marginalization are central to the ongoing call for the restoration of Biafra, the Igbo homeland.

While proponents of a unified Nigeria might dismiss the demands for Biafra as mere political posturing, a closer look at the everyday lives of the average Igbo reveals a pattern of institutionalized ethnic profiling and systemic injustice. It is no longer a question of political disagreements or regional tensions; the Igbo struggle is now rooted in their fight for survival in a nation that seems to see them as outsiders.

Igbo youths have been among the most visible targets of ethnic profiling. In several instances across the country, they have been rounded up by security forces, accused of being agitators or criminals based on nothing more than their ethnicity. The Nigerian government's treatment of young Igbos, particularly those with ties to freedom fighting movements like the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) has become synonymous with blanket repression and collective punishment.

For example, during periods of political unrest or when there are protests demanding the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Igbo youths are often arbitrarily detained and massacred, many of them not even involved in the protests.

Simply being a young Igbo man in certain regions of the country automatically places you under suspicion. This has led to widespread fear among the Igbo, with many parents warning their children to avoid certain public spaces or political gatherings to avoid being falsely labeled as insurgents or agitators.

In many instances, these youths are detained without trial, with no charges brought against them. Their detentions, which sometimes last months or even years, highlight the degree to which ethnic profiling has become a weapon used to suppress the Igbo people. The message from the state seems to be clear: any show of Igbo pride or solidarity will be met with suspicion and force.

The economic success of the Igbo people has been both a blessing and a curse. Igbos are renowned for their entrepreneurial acumen, dominating trade, industry, and commerce in various parts of the country and world at large. However, this success has often made them targets for harassment by government officials and regulatory bodies. From Lagos to Abuja, Igbo traders and businesspeople are regularly subjected to excessive taxation, unnecessary delays in clearing goods, and trumped-up charges of smuggling or trading substandard products.

In many cases, the harassment appears to be motivated not by genuine concerns over business practices but by ethnic prejudice. It is not uncommon to hear stories of Igbo traders being raided by customs officers or local authorities under the guise of enforcing regulations, only to discover that their goods were perfectly legal. Yet, even after proving their innocence, these traders often face lengthy legal battles or lose significant income due to the disruption of their businesses.

The 2020 case of Igbo traders in Lagos who were accused of importing substandard goods is a prime example. Despite meeting all regulatory requirements, they were detained, and their goods seized without cause. It was only after a public outcry and the intervention of advocacy groups that the authorities were forced to release them, but the damage had already been done. This kind of economic sabotage serves as a clear indication that ethnic profiling extends beyond law enforcement into other sectors of society, with devastating effects on the livelihoods of innocent people.

Another disturbing example of ethnic profiling comes in the form of the frequent targeting of Igbos at police and military checkpoints. While checkpoints are meant to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians, they have become hotspots for ethnic discrimination, particularly against Igbos. Reports of harassment, unlawful searches, and demands for bribes are common, with many Igbo travelers reporting that they are singled out more often than individuals from other ethnic groups.

The experience of being stopped at a checkpoint can be humiliating and frustrating for many Igbo people. It often begins with excessive questioning, followed by invasive searches of personal belongings, vehicles, and sometimes even homes. For Igbo men and women, the mere fact of traveling through regions outside their home states can turn into a traumatic ordeal. A trip meant to last a few hours can extend to days of detention if a suspicious security officer decides to single them out.

In the northern and western parts of Nigeria, Igbos are especially vulnerable to this kind of profiling. Travelers are often detained on flimsy grounds, such as possessing Biafran flags or other symbols of Igbo identity. In such instances, the assumption is that anyone who associates with the Biafran cause must be guilty of sedition or insurrection, regardless of whether they have broken any laws. The entire Igbo identity, then, is reduced to one of rebellion and disloyalty to Nigeria.

The ethnic profiling of Ndi Igbo is not limited to social or economic spheres; it also extends to the political realm. For decades, the Igbo people have been systematically marginalized from the highest levels of power in Nigeria. While other ethnic groups have dominated the presidency, the vice presidency, and other key government positions, Igbo People have been left out of the country’s political decision-making process.

This marginalization has fueled the belief that the Igbo people are unwanted in Nigeria. In the political landscape, their loyalty is often questioned, and their interests sidelined. The lack of Igbo representation in national politics is not due to a lack of qualified candidates but rather a deliberate exclusion that stems from the post-civil war distrust of the Igbo people.

During the 2019 elections, for example, several reports emerged of Igbo voters being harassed and prevented from voting in parts of Lagos. In some cases, thugs were hired to intimidate Igbo residents and discourage them from participating in the election. This form of voter suppression was rooted in the belief that Igbo voters would not support the ruling party and therefore had to be excluded from the process. Such incidents highlight how deeply entrenched ethnic bias is in Nigeria’s political system.

The way Igbo people are portrayed in the media further exacerbates the problem of ethnic profiling. Negative stereotypes of the Igbo people as rebels, agitators, or troublemakers are regularly reinforced by the Nigerian media. Whenever there is a crime, riot, or unrest involving an Igbo person, their ethnicity is often highlighted, as if being Igbo inherently makes one prone to lawlessness.

This contrasts sharply with how individuals from other ethnic groups are portrayed in the media, where their ethnicity is rarely mentioned unless it serves a positive narrative. For Ndi Igbo, the media's negative portrayal serves to legitimize the discriminatory treatment they receive from the state and from society at large. It reinforces the idea that Igbos are not loyal Nigerians and that their demands for equal rights or political representation are illegitimate.

This portrayal is particularly harmful to young Igbos who are growing up in a country that seems to view them with suspicion and hostility. It plants the seed of resentment and alienation, contributing to a cycle of distrust between the Igbo people and the Nigerian state.

The ethnic profiling of Igbos is not just an isolated problem; it is a symptom of a deeper, systemic issue that has plagued Nigeria since its creation. The marginalization, harassment, and persecution of the Igbo people have led many within the community to conclude that their future cannot be secured within the Nigerian state. This sentiment is what drives the continued agitation for the restoration of Biafra.

For Ndi Igbo, the idea of an independent Biafra is not just about self-determination or cultural pride. It is about survival. They see the current Nigerian state as one that cannot protect their interests, provide them with opportunities for political representation, or allow them to thrive without discrimination. The constant targeting of Igbos by security forces, the media, and the political establishments has led to a growing sense of alienation and frustration. The Biafran movement, therefore, is seen as a response to these injustices, a way to carve out a space where Ndi Igbo can live in peace and dignity, free from ethnic profiling and persecution.

While some Nigerians may view the call for Biafra as a threat to national unity, for NdiIgbo, it represents hope. Hope for a future where they are not constantly under suspicion, where they can express their identity without fear of reprisal, and where they can build a prosperous and inclusive society. The demand for Biafra is rooted in the lived experiences of generations of Igbo people who have been treated as second-class citizens in their so called country.

Ethnic profiling against Ndi Igbo in Nigeria is not just a legal or political issue—it is a fundamental human rights violation that affects every aspect of life for the Igbo people. From arbitrary arrests to economic harassment, from political exclusion to media stereotyping, Ndi Igbo are routinely subjected to discrimination based on their ethnicity.   

As long as the ethnic profiling continues, the call for Biafra Nation will continue to rise. 

Family Writers Press International.

Uchechi Okwu-Kanu Ramps Up Pressure Over UK Govt's Adamance In Husband's Ordeal

Uchechi Okwu-Kanu Ramps Up Pressure Over UK Govt's Adamance In Husband's Ordeal

Wife to the incarcerated Leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu has employed the founder of the Widows for Peace through Democracy [WPD] Margaret Owen, who is renowned for her participation in the momentum build-up that led to the intervention of UK government in the case of an British-Iranian national, Nazanine Ratcliffe in 2022. After she was arrested and prosecuted by the Iranian authorities on espionage charges for 6 years. 

Mrs Owen in a post made on her verified Facebook page, officially confirmed the assumption of the case after the former attorney in charge of the case, Jonathan Cooper died in autumn 2021 shortly after the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and subsequent prosecution/incarceration. 

In the statement issued by Mrs Owen, she lamented the adamance and negligence of the United Kingdom in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, likening his case with that of the aforementioned Nazanine Ratcliffe. Accusing the Foreign company Commonwealth Development Office United Kingdom(FCDOUK) of abandoning a health-deteriorating British citizen in captivity, his traumatized wife and two sons. 

"On my mind the deeply distressing plight of 56 year-old British citizen Nnamdi Okwu-Kanu , the IPOB ( Indigenous People of Biafra) leader, who in 2021 was a victim of extraordinary rendition from Kenya by the Nigerian authorities.  His unlawful unjust incarceration is causing extreme distress to his wife Uche, and his two young sons.  They are all British citizens living here, but so far the UK government is doing nothing to obtain his release and have him returned to this country where he has his home." 

"Blindfolded, he was tortured for 8 days with grave consequences to his health and is now detained in the Abuja prison, denied urgently needed medicines and cardiac surgery,"  she narrates.

She revealed that the late Jonathan Cooper  brought the plight of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to her knowledge, while he was still around.  Unfortunately, he passed before he could pursue the case until its logical conclusion. 

Hence, she has resolved to  "complete the mission" urging the British public to conduct simple research on the internet about Nnamdi Kanu's fight for freedom and to write their Members Of Parliament (MPs) representing their various constituencies to intervene in the case of Nnamdi Kanu being perpetually incarcerated in Nigeria. 

She argued that Nnamdi Kanu is pursuing a case of self-détermination for his people adding that Amnesty International has been reached out to classify Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a "Prisoner of Conscience" to facilitate, accelerate the process of the intervention by the UK government. 

"Kanu argued for self-détermination for Biafrans, for freedom of his people, and for peace. A call has gone out to Amnesty International to adopt him as a « Prisoner of Conscience », as this would strengthen our appeal to our new Labour government, now headed by human rights lawyers, Starmer, Lammy and Kermer."

Recall that after the Supreme Appellate Court Judgment of 13th October 2022, ordering the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Amnesty International  Nigeria, in line with the yet-to-be-implemented court ruling, issued a statement calling for Nnamdi Kanu's release.

Mrs Owen surmised that if the UK government does not intervene in the case of Mr Kanu, she would have no choice but to employ same strategy which was mass-used in the demand of Nazanine this forthcoming winter: pitching tents outside the FCDO office and commencing an unending hunger strike. 

Owen believes this would force the UK government to intervene in the case of Mr Kanu whom from all indications no longer has much time as he faces grave heart complications which requires immediate medical attention unlike Nazanine who spent 6 years before her release. 

"Nnamdi Kanu has not got such time, given the serious state of his heart, and other problems resulting from the torture." 

According to her, the hunger strike is part of a strategy package which Richard Ratcliffe spouse to Nazanine advised would be effective in the bid to ensure a timely intervention of the British government. And as such would be adopted if no meaningful progress is seen. 

Family Writers Press International.

Recuse Yourself From Kanu's Case Of Extraordinary Rendition, Wife Tells Justice Binta Nyako As D-day Approaches

 Recuse Yourself From Kanu's Case Of Extraordinary Rendition, Wife Tells Justice Binta Nyako As D-day Approaches

Uchechi Okwu-Kanu

Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife to the incarcerated Leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has called on the presiding judge at the federal high Court Abuja, Justice Binta Nyako to recuse herself from the case, saying that the later appears to have been muzzled into complying with the agenda of the successive executive arm of government whom was responsible for the kidnap and extraordinary rendition of her husband from Kenya and his subsequent or rather continued incarceration at the DSS headquarters Abuja. 

In a reminder tweet made on her verified X social handle (@Okwu-Kanu) anticipating the upcoming court sitting to be held on 24th September 2024, Mrs Kanu recounted the centuries-long historic injustices which has been meted on the Igbo race and black Africans at large. Positing that the currrent struggle for emancipation of the dark continent - which her husband, Nnamdi Kanu is one of its proponents - is spurred and inspired by the reincarnated older generations whom are back to continue the fight against oppression from where they stopped in their past lives. 

She questioned why Africans, as naturally obtained with every warm blooded mammal are yet to activate their self preservation instincts even though they are faced with multiple existential threats aimed at completely destroying their lives and future of the next generation. She called on Africans to collectively commence the process of activating their self preservation instincts. 

In the same vein, she called on Ndigbo whom are faced with existential threats of collective survival to activate their lifesaving self preservation instincts and in her view, the first off step in that regard would be for they [Ndigbo] to collectively work and ensure that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is being incarcerated by the federal government for seeking self determination of Ndigbo through a United Nations supervised referendum after years of marginalization, is rescued from captivity and plans of perpetually persecution. 

Furthermore, she called on the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma to withdraw his ulterior dealings and orchestrations against the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, her husband. Buttressing that she is in knowledge of his vindictive attitudes and asked him to contemplate about the future and do noble by withdrawing his machinations.

Finally, she assured that no matter how far lies travels, the truth shall triumph and the righteous shall be vindicated. 

Her Statement In Full: 

Our generation, the next generation and our descendants are the reason we are pushing.

Our ancestors have returned and are asking questions!!! 

They want to know the reason Igbos are treated differently. 

They want to know why the Igbos cannot switch on their self-preservation instinct. 

The basic human and animal instinct to protect themselves from any form of harm. 

Ndi Igbo, we must activate our self preservation instincts to protect our race.

Start by actively requesting the release of your own #NnamdiKanu. 

#Africans at large, activate your self preservation instincts and skills. 

#NnamdiKanu's next court date is on the 24th of September, 2024. Our voices should be loud for: 

1). Justice Binta Nyako to recuse herself from continuing to hear #MNK's extraordinary rendition case. 

2). To ask governor Hope Ụzọdinma of Imo State to "remove the monkey's hand from the soup pot, before it becomes the hand of a human being. Nobody sits on power forever.

I have never called your name but you must know that "swift walking legs are seen by rapid moving eyes".

And "no matter how fast you run, you can never run away from your backside".

"Gburugburu k'ana agba ukwuu ose, anaghị ari ya elu".

Family Writers Press International

IPOB’s Professionalism Amidst Adversity: A Testament to Resilience and Integrity

 IPOB’s Professionalism Amidst Adversity: A Testament to Resilience and Integrity 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have shown extraordinary resilience and tenacity in the face of severe obstacles, namely the enforced absence of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and relentless hybridized attempts by the Nigerian government to weaken them. Despite these challenges, IPOB has continued to uphold a remarkable level of organization and coordination, demonstrating that its commitment to its mission is unshakeable and that its operational methodology and tactics are grounded on its founding principles and integrity.

The Nigerian government’s efforts to destabilize IPOB through various suppressive measures, including but not limited, the arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have been relentless. These actions are part of a broader strategy to dislodge and dismantle the movement. However, rather than succumbing to these pressures, IPOB has navigated these challenges with remarkable adeptness, maintaining a high level of professionalism in its global operations. 

One of the most notable aspects of IPOB’s operations is its commitment to a crime-free and non-violent approach. Throughout its activities, IPOB has consistently advocated for peaceful and lawful means of pursuing its objectives. This commitment to non-violence is reflected in the movement's operational conduct and its strategic choices. IPOB has focused on peaceful advocacy and diplomatic efforts rather than resorting to violent confrontations, which sets it apart in a landscape often marked by strife and conflict. 

The professionalism of IPOB is evident in its well-structured leadership and governance. Despite the absence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the movement has continued to function effectively through a decentralized leadership model. Regional leaders and representatives have played pivotal roles in maintaining organizational coherence and advancing IPOB’s global yet collective objectives. This structured approach ensures that the movement remains focused and operationally sound, even in challenging circumstances. 

Strategic communication is another area where IPOB has excelled. The movement has skillfully utilized various communication platforms to engage with its supporters and manage its public image and reputation. By maintaining a consistent and measured narrative, IPOB has effectively countered attempts to discredit it. This strategic approach not only keeps the global audience informed but also helps in managing perceptions, perspectives and reinforcing IPOB’s commitment to its cause. 

The effective use and capitalisation technology has further bolstered IPOB’s organizational capabilities. Digital platforms have become essential tools for coordination, fundraising, and advocacy. Though attempt to infiltrate and sabotage this advantage by the enemy through agent provocateurs and state sponsored trojan horses were/are fiercely pursued. Yet, IPOB’s adeptness at leveraging these tools has enabled it to sustain its global presence and mobilize support effectively. This technological proficiency underscores the movement’s forward-thinking approach and its ability to adapt to contemporary challenges. 

IPOB’s global outreach is also a testament to its professionalism. The movement has established a strong international presence through well-organized chapters and a dedicated global diaspora. These chapters are instrumental in advocating for IPOB’s cause for Biafra restoration via an internationally supervised referendum or plebiscite. Thus, engaging with the international community, and fostering solidarity from state actors across the globe. The ability to mobilize and coordinate a global network of supporters, and diplomatic advocates reflects IPOB’s strategic planning and organizational strength. 

In the realm of legal and human rights advocacy, IPOB has maintained its commitment to lawful and constructive approaches. The movement’s engagement with international human rights organizations and its efforts to seek legal redress highlight its dedication to achieving its objectives through legitimate means. This approach not only reinforces IPOB’s credibility but also enhances its standing on the global stage. 

The Nigerian government’s attempts to suppress IPOB have, paradoxically, highlighted the movement’s resilience and the effectiveness of its strategic approach. Far from weakening IPOB, these efforts have galvanized support and drawn attention to the movement’s cause. The increased solidarity from within Nigeria and the international community underscores the strength and determination of IPOB’s advocacy. 

As IPOB moves forward, its continued emphasis on legitimacy by international standards, non-violence, and strategic communication will be crucial in navigating future challenges. The absence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the ongoing pressures from the Nigerian government are significant obstacles, but IPOB’s commitment to its principles and its organizational integrity provide a solid foundation for future success. 

Despite facing significant challenges, including the absence of its leader and provocative, aggressive government high handedness, IPOB has maintained an impressive standard of professionalism and sophistication. The movement’s dedication to non-violence, its structured leadership, strategic communication, effective use of technology, and global outreach are all indicators of its resilience and commitment. IPOB’s ability to navigate these challenges while upholding its principles is a testament to its enduring strength and determination. As IPOB continues its journey and course to self determination sustaining its integrity and reputation will remain central to its efforts in achieving its objectives and advancing its cause on the global stage. 

Family Writers Press International