The move by a group, Biafra National Guard (BNG) to declare “Biafra Sovereignty” in the Southeast, yesterday, did not hold, even as residents defied an alleged order to observe sit-at-home as a mark of solidarity.
Social and economic activities were in full swing in the region, as residents moved about their lawful duties, contrary to the group’s directive.
Members of the group, led by their Commander, “Gen” Innocent Orji, were seen in a recorded video circulating on the social media, declaring that the “liberation of Biafra has begun.”
The men, who were dressed in military camouflage and well-armed, were seen fuelling their vehicles at a petrol station in readiness for the “war to liberate Biafra.”
Orji, in the recorded video, claimed that they returned from Israel and that “October 30 is going to be the re-declaration of Biafra Sovereignty.”
He said: “We are already on ground to go and liberate prisoners of conscience, including Onyekachi Orji and the rest of them that have been imprisoned in the last 15 years. We are fuelling our various vehicles in readiness for war. We have said the Anambra election will not hold. We have said we will reintroduce the Biafra currency. This is the day two of the glorious week of Biafra.”
Some of the vehicles in their convoy include such Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) as Prado, Hilux and Highlander, among others.
Although, it could not be ascertained why the alleged “declaration” could not hold yesterday, unconfirmed sources, however, said it might not be unconnected with encounters members of the group had few days ago with the Nigerian soldiers, which claimed lives.
On the evening of Thursday, October 28, troops conducting Exercise Golden Dawn in the Southeast killed a member of the Biafra National Guard at Amaekpu, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
Reports said the assailants, who were heavily armed and conveyed in several vehicles, opened fire on the troops’ location, but were met with stiff resistance. It was gathered that the gunmen, majority of whom received gunshot injuries, abandoned their vehicles and retreated in disarray, while pump action guns and vehicles, among others, were recovered from them.
On October 29, four members of the group were killed after an alleged fierce gun battle at Nnobi Junction, Idemili south local government in Anambra State.
Members of the group had earlier attacked and killed two officials of the DSS at the Ekwulobia Roundabout in Aguata local government council of the state.
It was gathered that the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, one Galil Ace 5.56×45 Iwi gun, one Avofeng handheld radio and an SUV.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied links with BNG, saying its activities did not correspond with that of IPOB’s fundamental objectives.
A statement, yesterday, by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said: “We have observed the unpatriotic and nefarious activities of this group, and we hereby unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the group and its activities. This group has no link whatsoever with IPOB and doesn’t work for IPOB, which has nothing to do with any group associated with criminality. Our mandate is peaceful restoration of Biafra; anything other than this will have nothing to do with us.
“Our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, does not encourage criminality or any action injurious to the people of Biafra. We don’t encourage extortion or forceful collection of fuel and other lubricants from any petrol station in Biafraland. This is criminality that cannot be condoned in Biafra land…”
