NIGERIA

Nigeria’s Buhari speaks out on Biafra

Following tensions gripping the country between Biafra agitators and security forces, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated that his adminstration will not bow down to demands of separatism.

In a stark warning, Buhari said that the country will remain united despite incessant demands from some parts of Nigeria that want independence. "Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood. Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance," Buhari said.
Buhari also did not mince words about the videos that have been circulating on different social media platforms. "I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far."
In the meantime, the whereabouts of Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu remain unknown amid renewed protests and a military operation in southeast Nigeria. State governors have urged calm.
Nigerian governors on Friday called for calm after renewed protests by pro-Biafra supporters calling for independence. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group led by Nnamdi Kanu wants to break away from Nigeria and create a separate state for the predominantly Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria.
Windscreens of police vehicles have been smashed, petrol bombs thrown, bonfires lit on streets to restrict movement and warning shots fired, in the latest violence. Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau State in central Nigeria, convened a meeting of leaders from the Hausa and Igbo communities following violence at two markets. Two people were reportedly killed and calm was only restored after police fired warning shots in the air.

 

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Biafran people still long for independence

The violence has also claimed the lives of two police officers. More than 30 Biafra supporters have been arrested, the Daily Post, a local online daily reported. Shops belonging to ethnic Hausas have been attacked by pro-Biafra agitators in Aba and Port Harcourt, according to local media.
Read more:
 Is Nigeria’s one nation policy at stake?
Biafra: Dreaming of a new state
"There are very conflicting reports of violence on both sides," Isa Sanusi, spokesperson for Amnesty International in Nigeria, told DW in an interview. "There are reports of violence on the side of the military and there are reports of violence on the side of supporters of the Biafra movement."
Where is Nnamdi Kanu?
Nnamdi Kanu's whereabouts are unknown following an invasion of his home by the military, two local newspapers, the Premium Times and Naija News reported. Ifeanyi Ijeafor, a lawyer representing Nnamdi Kanu told DW, the army had gone to his client's home with the intention of assassinating him.

Nnamdi Kanu's call for Biafra's independence has become a hot political issue in Nigeria

"I got a distress call from my client that his house was invaded by the military, the soldiers," Ijeafor said. "I believe they went there for reasons best known to them - that reason is nothing more than to go and assassinate him." He accused the security officers of plotting to suppress Kanu and consequently arresting him.
Nigeria's military referred to the allegations that they had invaded Kanu's homestead as "baseless and mischievous." Kanu, a British and Nigerian citizen, is presently on bail on treasonable felony charges. His trial is set to resume next month in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari: 'Nigeria's unity is not negotiable'

Calls for an independent Biafra have grown ever since Nnamdi Kanu was released on bail. During an exclusive one on one with DW's Adrian Kriesch, Kanu reiterated his demand for a referendum on the independence of Biafra. President Muhammadu Buhari has strongly rejected any attempts to divide Nigeria saying the unity of the country was "not negotiable."
Read more:
 After long absence due to ill health, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari slams divisions, terror
Nigeria and the Biafran War: Ending the silence
More than one million Igbos died following the unilateral declaration of an independent republic of Biafra in 1967.
Nigeria's military urged to be cautious
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State attributed the rising tension to the presence of soldiers. The Nigerian army is carrying out a military operation codenamed "Python Dance II" to tackle what it says is rising crime in the region.

However, video footage and pictures showing some military officers allegedly torturing pro-Biafra supporters have triggered anger, particularly on social media. The Nigerian army has promised to investigate the matter and punish those found guilty.

Nigeria's army has previously denied accusations of human rights violations

"As always we call on Nigeria's military, while carrying out their constitutional obligations, to respect the human rights of all Nigerians," Amnesty International spokesperson in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi said.
"They have their own rules of engagement and their own code of conduct; we are always calling on them to respect this code of conduct while they are out in the field." For Sanusi, no one should end up as a victim of human rights violations as a result of their [military] activities.
Read more:  Amnesty accuses Nigerian army of killing 150 Biafran protestors
In 2016, at least 150 Biafra supporters were killed at peaceful protests according to Amnesty International.  Those figures were however dismissed by the military and police.
cm (AFP/Reuters)

Thank Nigerian Army for rescuing Ndigbo from the antics of a very sick young man ‘Kanu’ – Lauretta Onochie On September 16, 201711:20 amIn News, PoliticsComments By Nwafor Sunday The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has said that Nigerians should be thankful rather cursing and vilifying the efforts being made by Operation Python Dance (11), to rescue Ndigbo from the antics of a very sick-little Nnamdi Kanu, who is so immature and childish. Lauretta Onochie According to her, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has posed a threat to Ndigbo and all the South- Easterners who can no longer run their individual activities without fear, due to the fact that Nnamdi Kanu appears to have a tie with a country where arms and ammunition seized by the Nigerian Custom originated from and thousands of youths obeying his orders. “We must therefore, thank the Nigerian Army for coming to the aid of Nigerians in the South East and safeguarding them from the antics of a very sick young man. Nnamdi Kanu appears to have a tie with a country where arms and ammunition seized by the Nigerian Custom originated from. Nigerians and in particular, Ndigbo in this case, deserve to carry out their lawful engagements, without fear of molestation, she said. She made the above statement in her facebook handle tagged ‘PYTHON DANCE 2 ~ NIGERIANS ARE DRUMMING FOR THE ARMY. Her words, “I now understand why Ohaneze Ndigbo has been unable to stand on solid ground but rather has been on sandy soil regarding Nnamdi Kanu. What is driving their stand? I believe they are being tossed about by every wind of doctrine because of fear of reprisals from little Nnamdi Kanu’s boys. “In 2015, at the beginning of the Buhari administration, and following the example of Anioma people of Nigeria, other ethnic groups in the South South, and socio-cultural organisations in the South East, including Ohaneze, distanced themselves from the actions of notorious Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB. Not many people doubted that IPOB was a merchant of terror that tried to use fear, abuses, outright lies, manipulation of the truth and insults to colonise Ndigbo in something that is akin to modern day slavery. “It is common knowledge but hush hush that South Easterners were being forced to fly the Biafran flag and to wear biafra memorabilia. There have been threats to lives and properties across the South East, and threats of rape to women who shun their hate campaign. “For starters, Ohaneze Ndigbo is an association that was registered in Nigeria to represent the interests of Ndigbo of Nigeria. That is why it is called Ohaneze Ndigbo and not Ohaneze Ndi-IPOB or Ohaneze Ndi Biafra! “How has the Ohaneze helped terrified Ndigbo who are living in fear for their lives and properties in the South East of Nigeria? They haven’t because they themselves have been terrified. “I have confirmed, via personal interviews of South Easterners who live in Onitsha and Aba, that there was a great sigh of relief when the Nigerian Army was seen in the region. Ndigbo who live in their ancestral homes in the South East, are for the first time in two years, breathing a sigh of relief and freedom. “You see, little Nnamdi Kanu, a college dropout, is immature and childish. The South East governors know and appreciate this fact. This was why he was asked to come with his father to attend a meeting with them. “If Nnamdi Kanu needs his father to attend a meeting of leaders, how mature are those who see him not just as their leader, but as their God? “These mostly uneducated, half baked and uncouth youngsters, went about the South East, intimidating ordinary Ndigbo, threatening them with death and violence if they refused to kiss Nnamdi Kanu’s toes. “If the IPOB leader and his cohorts learned a good lesson from The Python dance {1} by turning away from their ways, there would be no need for a second Python dance. When your brother is in trouble, the least you could do is to support him. “The Python dance is not just for the freedom of Ohaneze, so they can have a sound footing, and advocate fearlessly for ordinary Ndigbo, but also, for ordinary Ndigbo so they can associate freely. No one should have to be in danger or live in fear for not supporting a criminal agenda in a free country. “As an Igbo woman put it, “If Ndigbo need to renegotiate their membership of Nigeria, it will be a discussion and that discussion will not be led by disenchanted politicians and definitely not by Nnamdi Kanu.” “The Nigerian Army, has come to the South East to exercise it’s duty towards Ndigbo who have been held captive by the fear, not of some foreign aggressors, but of some youngsters who act under the manipulations and brain-washing by one who is delusional. Anyone who suffers from delusions of grandeur or megalomania should not be left running wild among law-abiding people. “I do not understand those who are calling on the Nigerian Army to stop the Python dance. Nnamdi Kanu is running an illegal government in our nation, complete with his own Army, Police, Secret service, Anthem, coat of arms, passport and currency. If that is not an affront on our collective existence, I don’t know What is. “Nnamdi Kanu appears to have a tie with a country where arms and ammunition seized by the Nigerian Custom originated from. Nigerians and in particular, Ndigbo in this case, deserve to carry out their lawful engagements, without fear of molestation. We must therefore, thank the Nigerian Army for coming to the aid of Nigerians in the South East and safeguarding them from the antics of a very sick young man.”

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/thank-nigerian-army-rescuing-ndigbo-antics-sick-young-man-kanu-lauretta-onochie/