The Victims of the shootings of Biafrans in Aba by Nigeria Police and Army

How Much Respect Do You Show Igbo’s

I am not Igbo. I am proud of my Urhobo. However, as a stdent of history, I wish to show just what these great people came/come against and yet thrive.

Okay, the incessant killings in the North will be glossed over so as to make this article not overly long. The civil war will also not be discussed.

However, post civil war, as I explained in my post MINORITY REPORT: THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST YOU, the rich in Nigeria have major roots in the Indegenization decree of 1972 and 1977. I reminded how the banks gave people of other tribes, predominantly Hausas and Yorubas loans to by up companies owned by foreigners. Now imagine the Federal government forced Chevron to sell 51 percent of its shares and that Access Bank will give you loans to buy the shares. How rich will you be in a year? 5 Years? That is how many Yorubas and Hausas got to own UAC, all those Dunlop, Leventis, Cadbury etc.

Now while this was ongoing, Gowon told the Nigerian banks to give TOPS twenty naira to any Igbo man that had money in the bank before the war. That is, if you had 5 naira before the war, you will be given the 5 naira. But if you had a hundred naira, you get just twenty naira in full fulfilment of the banks duty to give you your money.

Ask yourselves "why would the banks give Igbos only twenty naira? Did the banks collapse? So why pay less than you were given?

So while the banks were giving loans to Hausa and Yorubas to buy Oyibo companies they did not build, Igbos were being cheated out of their rightful moneys.

Now not also that these people lost Houses and business across the land. It is safe to say that as at 1970/71. the richest Igbo had 20 naira that may be the equivalent of maybe one million.

Let us lok at how Dangote made his money. He Dagote (a great man and pride to Nigeria) has an uncle called Dantata who owned huge chunks of the groundnut pyramids of the 50's and 60's. He gave Dangte a loan and Dangote paid it back in record time. CLAP CLAP. The add that Dangote has had his "brothers" in government, from IBB to Abacha and Abdulsalaam. When they now agreed to democracy, he was rich enough to have funded Obasanjo and so government policies, be it monopoly afforded him for rice, sugar flour and of course a large share of subsidy etc ensures he is the wealthiest Nigerian. (note many had same opportunity but did not use it. We kowtow to Dangote's investment capabilities)
However, for the Igbo man, where will he see an uncle that will loan him money? The richest man in their family has how much as at then? So while Fani Kayode can inherit property of his father and grandfather and great grand father, a Chidi Cali cannot inherit anything from his grandfather who had business in Kano or even Port Harcourt. Neighbours have made his dad's storey building theirs, and even someone as educated as Saro Wiwa lived in an Igbo war emigrant house as his. (a sore point of the Niger Delta and Igbo Unity) WAEC building was Ojukwu's dad's building and like that building, thousands and the land with it....lands worth billions today were taken from Igbos and each and everyIgbo had tops 20 naira, destroyed homeland, stolen and destroyed wealth away from the east. ALso his brother is never president that will give him oil block or fuel lifting. Of 33, only one Igbo man and because he was in Obasanjo's good graces.

YET LOOK HOW PROUD THEY STAND TODAY!!! Look what they have achieved for themselves....FIRST GENERATION WEALTH...top second generation. From being unable to send their first sons to school so he could help look after the shop, to producing first class brains in all departments of modern learning.

So today, as you accuse Igbos of wanting their Biafra or of Baby Factory, or liking money and ready to do anything for money, remember that just forty years ago, while the banks were dashing your uncles loans to buy all the companies of Nigeria, it stole from the Igbos. Know that appointments have not favoured them. Note that they remain persecuted and many speak such ill and hate twoards a people forced by need to survive to be extra-aggressive towards their sustenance. Maybe if you took their history into consideration, you will not be so critical of them, but instead say "what a resilient people" and give God the glory that FOR NOW, we and such a great people are compatriots.

Radio Biafra vs. Nigeria: the battle of wits

“First they ignore you; then they laugh at you; then they fight you; and then you win” – Mahatma Gandhi

The above statement captures the mood of Biafrans at the moment as they appear to be winning the war being waged against them by the Nigerian state. To many Biafrans it was becoming evident that Nigerian government was working extra hours to have their radio station, Radio Biafra, grounded.
On Wednesday, July 15, the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Information, Shade Yemi-Esan, was reported to have told journalists that Nigerian authorities had successfully jammed Radio Biafra (RBL), to keep its signals from getting to the people. Her declaration was somewhat a follow up to what was initiated by Nigeria Broadcast Commission (NBC) some few days back.
In an earlier statement from the NBC, it branded RBL as an “illegal” and “pirate” radio station; and an instrument of disunity. The commission’s Director of Public Relations, Awalu Salihu, had declared it in an interview where he claimed that Radio Biafra was “designed to create disunity among Nigerians and mislead young people in a deliberate act of subversion.” He went on to insist that RBL was out to foment trouble, arguing that Nigerians did not need another round of heartache and bloodshed.
So, as Yemi-Esan made her declaration, she revealed that the government’s next line of action, which she said would be to commence arrest of operators of the station and its supporters. In her words: “The commission is also working with security agencies to get those that are behind that radio because it is an illegal radio. It is not licensed by anybody to be on the airwaves in Nigeria.”
She made the statement while speaking with journalists at Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power, after members of her ministry concluded a meeting with Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president.
The news was a hit for many, both for people of Biafran and Nigerian peoples. Among Nigerians, they were extremely happy with the development. But for Biafrans (especially those in Biafraland), it elicited sadness for many.  There were justifications and castigations on both sides for the actions of the other side. For Nigerians and a sprinkle of Biafrans, it was a good development; and their reason was loudly espoused. They insisted that RBL was preaching hate and violence rather than peace, unity and one-Nigeria.
On their part, Biafrans saw the station as the best thing that has happened to the people of Biafra since the end of Biafra/Nigeria war. They said the station was telling the truth without minding whose ox was gored, and that it was doing it unlike any other medium in Nigeria. They described Nigeria as an expired territory (which has completed 100 years of its existence), which must be dissolved to its natural parts. Many Biafrans abroad felt the same way. Being used to receiving the radio signals through cable network, they felt the Nigerian state had once again trampled on their rights, and this time, by wickedly tampering with the radio station they loved to listen to.
The Biafrans argued that for the first time, they had a voice that told their story and gave their perspective on issues to the world. They saw Radio Biafra as good because it exposed the huge exploitative tendencies of Nigeria and Nigerians over Biafraland and Biafrans. They also saw it as a definitive departure from the lies and the deceits of the past as promoted by Nigerian governments. In every part of Biafraland, people were seen clustered and glued to their transistor radio sets not wanting to miss any detail from what was being said in what had become additive listening.
In addition, the educated ones among the Biafrans argued that any plan to arrest and detain the operators of RBL would be an illegal action by the Nigeria state. Some even prayed that Nigerian authorities would go that far, so that they would use the opportunity to prove to the world that Nigeria was a terrorist state (See box). They said they loved the unique style of the radio which gained it popularity.

What took place?

What took place few hours before June 15 was that Nigerian government, through some of its faceless agents, bought over the satellite company, Satlink, which was in contract with RBL to carry its signals to listeners. Having succeeded, they went on to yank off the signals. The Nigerian government equally bought powerful transmitters with which it attempted to jam the straight-to-air FM transmission of the station in Biafraland.
Few days later, all the FM signals of the radio were off air in Biafraland with the exception of Aba, in Abia State; Warri, in Delta State; and occasionally Onitsha, in Anambra State. The people were disillusionment and anguish was seen on many faces across Biafraland. The people feared that Nigeria had succeeded with its threats. The station was still broadcasting online but was on and off in some of its platforms.
Few hours after Yemi-Esan’s declaration, some Nigerian newspapers announced that an RBL engineer had been arrested who was helping the security officials to identify other prominent members of the group for further arrests. But Radio Biafra refuted the news, claiming that Nigerian officials were lying. Few days later, Nigerian Police claimed ignorance of any such arrest.

Before the “Jamming” episode

Before news of the jamming, many Nigerians and their officials (known to be monumentally corrupt) have been agonising over the content of the broadcasts. They were also not comfortable with the unique presentation of the radio, which pick up news items and tried to look at the hidden meanings to them. Indeed, many of them had on occasions expressed the desire to have the station grounded by any means possible.
The Biafra Times learnt that it was in response to them that the Nigerian government commenced search for ways to ground the station. It was therefore not a surprise to many people when Salihu granted his interview assuring Nigerians that their government was doing all within its powers to stop the station, which he dubiously branded “illegal” and “pirate”.
Perhaps as a veil and attempt to introduce the element of surprise for the Biafran Radio operators, he also told the people that it was not possible to stop the radio station.

Biafrans react

Indigenous Peoiple of Biafra (IPOB), owners of Radio Biafra, stood firm on their chosen part, insisting that Nigeria was an expired territory. With this understanding they engaged Nigerians in the media war that ensued and have continued to rage in several other quarters.
IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is also the Director of Radio Biafra, taunted the Nigerian authorities as incorrigible liars. To start with, he countered them by insisting that RBL was neither a pirate radio nor an illegal one.
He informed his listeners that RBL was duly registered in the United Kingdom (UK) as a business concern, and was duly paying its taxes to her Majesty’s government. He informed further that no IPOB and RBL member was hiding, but that their addresses and phone numbers were public knowledge. He wanted to know why Nigeria has not stopped all Hausa services in major international radio stations. He also wanted to know why the new Northern cable television, Arewa 24. He told the Nigerian government which of the international medium like Voice of America (VOA); British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC); and several others that Nigeria has jammed their signals because they were not “licensed by anybody to be on the airwaves in Nigeria”.
He said Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), owners of Radio Biafra, was ready to engage Nigeria in any form of media war it wished to provoke. He then boasted that Biafra engineers were set to jam Nigerian government radio signals in retaliation of any attempt to jam Radio Biafra. Kanu equally refuted the news that an engineer of Radio Biafra was arrested. He claimed the intention was to scare Biafrans from identifying with the struggle, but went on to assure them that those engaged in the struggle were hardcore Biafrans who would not be scared by such petty lies and propaganda.
Online, Biafran activists took it from there and began to portray Nigeria as a country of liars. They created Facebook graphics and videos where they made a mockery of Nigeria. One of them specifically stated that “in an empire of lies (Nigeria), truth is treason”.
Anchoring the programme the next day, Kanu, boasted that Nigeria did not have the technology to jam the radio because according to him: “the technology being used by Radio Biafra was light-years ahead of whatever Nigeria could ever muster.”
Kanu assured the people that RBL was taking the bull by the horns by upping its technology to the level where the jamming would no longer have any effects at all. He told his listeners that IPOB and RBL has always been winners and would also overcome the new Nigerian threat within days. “Let them try; they will always try. But we will always win. In the end we win – we always win” he declared.
He informed Nigeria that Satlink would be taken to court for breach of contract.

Previous attacks on RBL

It is instructive to note that what happened on July 25 was not the first time RBL have suffered persecution and attacks believed to be commissioned by the Nigerian government. After it first started broadcast on shortwave in 2009, the Nigerian government struck by using a certain Ralph Uwazuruike to sabotage the funding of the station, forcing it to go bankrupt.
Then the Board of Directors chose to restart by taking their attention to the Internet broadcasting. Broadcasting on the Internet, several cyber-attacks were directed at its website and listening portals. The attacks came from such countries as Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, and several others. Again, the attacks were believed to be sponsored by the Nigerian government.
It was based on this that IPOB/RBL informed Biafrans all over the world to continue to remain resolute. They promised that just as they overcame past plots, conspiracies and attacks; they will also overcome anything Nigeria will throw their way.

Nigeria, sad over failed mission

Right now, information gathered from some quarters show that Nigerian authorities are not happy because they failed woefully in their latest plots. They believed that rather than stop the station, they only succeeded in pushing it to trend above world established media houses like the BBC and VOA.
However, new schemes are being concocted. Buhari’s recent visit to Cameroun is seen as one of such plots. Biafrans were convinced that he went to threaten Paul Biya, the Camerounian head of state, to desist from supporting Biafra. They also claimed of plans to have Kanu killed, either through poisoning, sniper-shot, or even arranged road accident.

Facts about Radio Biafra:

They quote the Nigerian so-called constitution of 1999; the fundamental human rights of freedom, association and free speech; as well as the right of indigenous peoples enacted by the United Nations Organisation in 2006, as veritable laws that support them. 

Nigeria kills Biafrans again

Nigeria, the number one terrorist state in Africa has once again murdered a Biafran. The murder occurred around 10 AM yesterday when a young man who was diligently working in his shop at Power-line area of Aba, Abia State, was shot dead in cold blood by a Nigerian Policeman.
Power-line is an industrial area in Aba where shoes and different types of footwear were manufactured. The Biafra Times reporters gathered that the about 30-year old young man, whose real name was not immediately known at the time of going to the press, but who is popularly known in the locality as John 3: 16, died on the spot.
His murder happened when members of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who in the main were members of the Nigerian Police, went to hunt down some Indian hemp (weed) smokers at a place known as Samek.
Behind Power-line is an area known as Samek, and in this place, young men usually gather to smoke weed. Operatives of NDLEA have, from time to time, gone to Samek to hunt down these youths. This, they have often done when they were broke and looking for people to extort money.
But on this day, they drew blank as they could not apprehend any of the youths, who outsmarted and escaped. And as they (the youths) ran, they made it through the Power-line area. Frustrated, the Policemen ran into one of the numerous workshops at Power-line demanding that those who work there should bring out the fleeing boys.
As they did, they threatened to shoot and kill anyone who refused to heed their instructions. They fired their rifles sporadically and indiscriminately at every direction. Those in the shops pleaded with them, explaining that the bad boys did not run into their shops but only ran across Power-line to the other neighbourhood. Somewhat pacified, they reluctantly went away, yet pointing their guns at everybody and threatening to shoot anyone that misbehaved. They also continued to shoot indiscriminately in all directions.
Not satisfied, they came back about five minutes later, still shooting sporadically and indiscriminately in all directions; they bullied and beat up anyone they could lay their hands on, inflicting all manners of injuries on individuals. Then on their way out, one of them stooped low, took aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet went through an iron signboard and hit John 3: 16 on the mouth, who tipped forward, fell and died.
Uproar ensued as many youths became angry on finding that the young man was dead. They went out to the ever busy Faulks Road and blockaded it with bonfires. From nowhere, and as if pre-planned, more Policemen, joined by men of the armed forces – all numbering up to 70 – filled the place. Swarming all over the place, they continued to still shoot indiscriminately anywhere their guns pointed. They continued their shooting for a long while that in the process, two more youths were gunned down.
Moaning and weeping filled the place as angry youths started rioting. They made more bonfires at Faulks Road advancing towards the killers with angry words and chants. And this point, one known simply as Chima, a brother of the first deceased, came on the scene. He stormed out of the Power-line, intent on confronting his brother’s killers. But other youths restrained him, telling him that the battle would indeed be fought, but that it would not be fought by him alone. As at about twelve in the afternoon, the rioting had spread to other important areas in the town.
This was the situation until about 4 PM when Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, came on air to order that every Police Station in the town be burnt down in retaliation.
He told the world that they would no longer take the humiliation from the Nigerian State. He recounted how the Nigerian state has, since 1945, either killed Biafrans directly or aided and abetted its citizens to do the killing. 

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and impersonators

Away from the numerous attacks on the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Nigerian government, The Biafra Times investigation into the struggle for Biafra has revealed other challenges confronting Biafrans.
One of such challenges is the attempt by groups and individuals to impersonate IPOB and some members of its leadership for pecuniary gains. For instance, a group known as Bilie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI) is said to be playing that role at the moment. Registered with Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (NCAC) few years ago, the BHRI is said to have already been deregistered when it was discovered that, contrary to its claims, the group was not open to all Nigerians.
It was discovered also that the group, in its quest for continued existence in another guise, had to quickly change its name to Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (GIPB), claiming to have a Council of Elders as its highest decision-making body. According to IPOB leadership, it was under this new name that the group lied to the people that it had attended an African Union (AU) meeting, as well as that of the United Nations (UN).
Some members of IPOB have accused the group of taking its nefarious activities to some markets and public places in Biafraland, extorting money from unsuspecting members of public. They claimed that few days ago, they sighted some members of the group (Bilie/GIPB) at Nkpor junction, Onitsha, speaking to the people.
They had in their company, a European, whose presence attracted curious people that drew near to listen to what they had to say. They asked the people to ignore the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB and to follow their leadership. They said their group was the only one that was better placed to win Biafra.
When The Biafra Times spoke to Ikechukwu Okoye, IPOB Coordinator in Anambra State, he said they were aware of such moves by BHRI in the state, and were working to thwart all their plans. He used the opportunity to advise the people not to be deceived by such people, and that IPOB was an organised group that was not in the business of going to market places or the social media to solicit for funds.
He further advised the people that seeing a group with a European should not be a reason for them to pay heed to their antics, since white-skinned individuals could be got from anywhere. He went on to assure The Biafra Times that IPOB was working out ways to counter the pranks of the BHRI/GIPB aimed at exploiting the people.
He said there was no way they would lie low and allow people to destroy the integrity IPOB have built over the years. “I am not against any group fighting for Biafra, but I am against any group using the name of IPOB to extort money from Biafrans” he said.
In another development, Uche Mefor, Deputy Director of Radio Biafra, in an elaborate article deposed all the claims of BHRI as being better placed to get Biafra. He told Biafrans to ignore the group since it pledged allegiance to Nigeria and its laws and as such could not successfully fight for Biafra. “BHRI and its ‘SUPREME COUNCIL OF ELDERS’ and their followers are indeed Nigerians in fact and indeed obey the Nigerian law, and therefore coming out to the world to announce that they are freedom fighters and agitators for Biafra makes mockery of the Biafra” he said.
In a recent broadcast, Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra used the opportunity to assure Biafrans that the impersonators where just wasting their time since they would only remain copies while IPOB remains the original. He words: “People can copy us; people can even pretend to be us, but they can never be like us. We are a golden generation. There was not a generation like this one, and they will never be another like our own”.
Interestingly, it has also been discovered that some individuals have gone on social media claiming to be the Radio Biafra Director and asking people to donate money for the Biafran struggle.

The Mohammedan emirate of the North House Of Assembly Proceedings, February-March 1964

Northern House Of Assembly Proceedings, February-March 1964
Below is an extract from the proceedings of the Northern Region House of Assembly between February and March 1964, less than four years after Nigeria’s independence from the British. I have nothing to add. Read and judge for yourself:

Mallam Muhammadu Mustapha Mande Gyan:
On the allocation of plots to Ibos or allocation of stalls, I would like to advise the Minister that these people know how to make money, and we do not know the way and manner of getting about this business. We do not want Ibos to be allocated with plots. I do not want them to be given plots...

Mallam Bashari Umaru:
I would like (you), as a Minister of Land and Survey, to revoke forthwith all Certificates of Occupancy from the hands of the Ibos resident in the Region... (Applause)

Mr. A. A. Agogede:
I’m very glad that we are in a Moslem country, and the government of Northern Nigeria allowed some few Christians in the region to enjoy themselves according to the belief of their religion, but building of hotels should be taken away from the Igbos, and even if we find some Christians who are interested in building hotels and do not have money to do so, the government should aid them, instead of allowing Ibos to continue with their hotels.

Dr. Iya Abubakar (Special Member, Lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria):
I am one of the strong believers in Nigerian unity, and I have hoped for our having a united Nigeria, but certainly if the present state of affairs continues, I hope the government will investigate first the desirability and secondly the possibility of extending Northernisation policy to the petty traders. (Applause)

Mallam Mukhtar Bello:
I would like to say something very important, that the Minister should take my appeal to the Federal Government about the Igbos in the post office. I wish the numbers of these Igbos be reduced…. There are too many of them in the North. They are like sardines and 1 think they are just too dangerous to the Region.
Mallam Ibrahim Musa:
Mr. Chairman, Sir. Well first and foremost, what I have to say before this Hon. House is that we should send a delegation to meet our Hon. Premier to move a motion in this very Budget Session that all the Ibos working in the Civil Service of Northern Nigeria, including the native authorities, whether they are contractors or not, should be repatriated at once...

Mallam Bashari Umaru:
There should be no contracts either from the government, native authorities, or private enterprises given to Ibo contractors (Government Bench: Good talk and shouts of “Fire the Southerners”). Again, Mr. Chairman, the foreign firms too should be given time limit to replace all Ibo in their firms by some other people.

The Premier (Alhaji the Hon. Sir Ahmadu Bello, K.B.E., Sardauna of Sokoto):
It is my most earnest desire that every post in the region, however small it is, be filled by a Northerner (Applause)

Alhaji Usman Liman:
What brought the Ibos into this region? They were here since the colonial days. Had it not been for the colonial rule, there would hardly have been any Ibo in this region. Now that there is no colonial rule, the Ibos should go back to their region. There should be no hesitation about the matter. Mr. Chairman, North is for Northerners, East for Easterners, West for Westerners, and the Federation is for us all. (Applause)

The Minister of Land and Survey (Alhaji the Hon. Ibrahim Musa Cashash, O.B.E.):
Mr. Chairman. Sir, I do not like to take up much of the time of this House in making explanations, but I would like to assure members that having heard their demands about Ibos holding land in Northern Nigeria, my ministry will do all it can to see that the demands of members are met. How to do this, when to do it, al1 these should not be disclosed. In due course, you will all see what will happen. (Applause)

Culled from M. O. Onyenakeya, Igbos in Nigerian Politics, pp.30-32

ABA IS BURNING DOWN RIGHT NOW

ABA IS BURNING DOWN RIGHT NOW, AS HAUSA/FULANI POLICE OFFICER KILLED AN INNOCENT MAN IN "ARIARIA" MARKET ABA
A Young man shot dead by Hausa/Fulani police in Aba. Provocation continues
This young man was shot dead at his working place by an Hausa/Fulani police man, his line members are about to burn down Ariaria police state as they beat up two police men & took away they guns.
I am an eye witness of this event
Some police from another division have come down to Ariaria police station as they spray tear gas inside & outside the market.
As far as Ariaria is concern, market had been close....
From EZEGWU CHINAZA MICHEAL
Another eye witness
Sad story as ‪#‎Nigeria‬ Hausa/Fulani police killed innocent man at powerline shoe industrial area Aba, they packed their bus in the shoe maker's line and entered at the back where few people enter to smoke, on their way going while people stood up to watch what was happening police started shooting and killed this innocent man who was working in front of his shop.