Biafra Elders React to Killing of Biafrans in Onitsha by Govt Agents

Press Release By The Supreme Council Of Elders Of Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) Following The Killing Of Some Biafrans In Onitsha Anambra State On

Sunday 30th August 2015 By Agents Of The Nigerian Government

We the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) being the Claimants in a representative capacity in the Suit No FHC/OW/CS/192/2013 between Biafra and Nigeria in the Federal High Court Owerri have received the sad and painful news that some Biafrans who were on peaceful protest for the Independence of Biafra in Onitsha were killed and massacred by the agents of the Nigerian State, the Defendants in the on-going case. 

An eye-witness who survived the massacre testified as follows: “As we were walking towards the bridge, giving people our flyers, we heard gunshots and people started falling down. That was when I realised they were shooting at us. Many of us ran for our lives, and when the sound of the gunshots subsided, we went back to help those that sustained serious bullet wounds.

“Three of our comrades were confirmed dead on the spot and over thirty people sustained serious wounds. This morning I woke up to hear that four more have died in the hospital”.

We strongly condemn the gruesome murder of the unarmed children of Biafra by the Nigerian State. We are surprised that the Defendants could exhibit such barbaric and despicable acts of human rights violation against the children of the Claimants. 

We have noted that the children, though exercising their right to freedom of assembly, were misguided by the operators of the pirate Radio Biafra into protesting on the street for secession of Biafra without the approval of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra instead of following us in the due process of law for self-determination going on in the Federal High Court Owerri and in the United Nations at the moment. 

We assert strongly that the Defendants had no right to take the laws into their hands and kill the children of the Claimants even if misguided by the Director of Radio Biafra whom we have ostracised from the Biafra Independence Movement.

As the Governing Council constituting the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), we now put the Defendants on NOTICE that we hold them responsible for the murder and or the extrajudicial killing of our children and shall in due course commence actions in the appropriate Court against the Nigerian Government for redress. 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are in Court with Nigeria in a representative capacity by the agency of a human rights organization called Bilie Human Rights Initiative seeking to exercise their right to self-determination as guaranteed by law. 

The law protects them to seek for independence by the rule of law based on both the Nigerian law and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007. The legal right to self-determination is different from the call for secession by violence being preached by the operators of Radio Biafra. 

The Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra is His Royal Majesty, His Lordship, the Honourable Justice Eze Ozobu OFR, while the Deputy Leader is Dr Dozie Ikedife OON, JP, both of whom were Past Presidents of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

Consequent upon the criminal act committed by the Nigerian State against our children, we now advise and direct as follows: The heads of families of the Biafran children killed by the agents of the Defendants should contact the Supreme Council of Elders immediately through the Office of Indigenous People of Biafra nearest to them as shown below, or through the undersigned Public Relations Officer on Tel No 08035438667 for further instructions.

No pro-Biafra activists should embark upon public procession in Nigeria without the approval of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra. 

It is on record that thousands of Biafran youths agitating for independence of Biafra had been killed in the past by the Nigerian Police and Army before the Elders took over the control and supervision of the Biafran Independence Movement by legal method. 

We do not want our children to be killed again by the Nigerian Authorities. We uphold the rule of law and condemn all acts of violence, hate speeches and lawlessness in the pursuit of self-determination as being preached by the operators of Radio Biafra.

We emphasise our previous Order and Directives that all pro-Biafra activists should come under the authority, control, supervision and protection of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra which governs the remnants of the Biafrans by Customary Law pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. 

We are operating under the human rights law. Any person who refuses to bring himself or herself under the protection of the Elders is on his own.

THIS STATEMENT IS ISSUED THIS 3RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2015 BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA UNDER CUSTOMARY LAW

Signed:

On behalf of the Government of Indigenous People of Biafra under Customary Law

(1) Brig Gen Joe Achuzia (rtd) 

Secretary-General

Supreme Council of Elders

(2) His Royal Majesty,

Eze Iheanyi Nwokenna OFG, JP

Public Relations Officer

Tel: 08035438667

HEADQUARTERS & OFFICE ADDRESSES

Nnewi Office: 33 Igwe Orizu Road, P. O. Box 32, Nnewi, Anambra State; Tel: +234-803-710-4017

Enugu Office: 7 Chime Avenue, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria;

Owerri Office: 92 Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State Nigeria; Tel: +234-803-339-1126

Awka Office: 26 Igweze Road, Off Court Road, Kwatta Junction, Express Road, Awka, Anambra State

Contact: ipobiafra@yahoo.com; ¦ www.ipobgovernment.org;

Please address all hard copy correspondences to P. O. Box 32, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria