Policemen in Enugu on Monday arrested over 500
persons for allegedly being part of the purported re-declaration of
Biafra as a sovereign state.
The group under the aegis of Biafra
Zionist Movement had converged on an open field in Coal Camp area of
Enugu where the leader, Mr. Ben Onwuka, addressed them.
However, after Onwuka’s
address, policemen led by the Enugu Central Police Station Divisional
Police Officer, Mr. Ike Mba, arrested him and other members of the group,
who displayed Biafran, American and Israeli flags.
The suspects were arraigned before a
court and remanded in police custody afterwards.
Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State,
Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the arrests.
He said, “No fewer than 500 persons believed to
be members of BZM, which is also believed to be a faction of the Movement for
the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, have been arrested by the
police.
“The group was led by one Ben Onwuka and the
members were arrested at Akwata, off Agbani Road, Enugu. They were arrested
with 61 Biafran flags, 13 berets, three bands and eight BZM forms.”
While addressing the crowd, Onwuka said,
“It is clear that the security of lives and property of Biafran
people is no longer guaranteed in the entity called Nigeria.
“Therefore, we have resolved to re-declare
our independence today based on the mandate given to Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu-Ojukwu on May 30, 1967 to provide our people security according
to international law.
“It is clear that our people’s right to worship,
according to our Christian faith, is no longer guaranteed. Therefore,
we Biafra people have resolved to opt out of Nigeria.
“Today, the re-birth of the Republic of Biafra is
finally actualised.
“On the international arena, the Republic of
Biafra would establish and maintain a very pro-Israel international relations.
Biafra would consider an attack on Israel and the Jewish people as an attack on
Biafra.”
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