Biafra: Jubilation in Onitsha as FG releases detained IPOB members in Aba

There was jubilation in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, yesterday, following the release of members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) arrested, during a prayer session, in Aba, Abia State, by security operatives.

The IPOB members in Onitsha went into frenzy the moment news of their release filtered into  town. They converged on the old market road, Onitsha, discussing, drinking and celebrating, while expressing their hope that Nnamdi Kanu, their leader will soon be released by the Federal Government.

In a statement praising the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the peace gesture, the Media and Publicity Secretary of organisation, Mr. Emmanuel Powerful, noted that their quest was for the restoration of Biafra state and not for violent take-over of the rulership of Nigeria. He promised to continue to pursue their quest through non-violent means.

Urging the Attorney-General to extend the release to other members who were detained in different prisons and security cells in the country, he appealed to President Buhari to release Kanu without “conditional attachment.”

Likening IPOB to other liberation movements around the globe, he reiterated that the liberation movement is dedicated to the self-determination of the indigenous people of Biafra in line with universally acclaimed processes and procedures. “Having launched Biafrexit, IPOB is fully committed to pursing a referendum to determine once and for all time the issue of the sovereignty of Biafra,” he noted.

Calling on the Federal Government under President Buhari to emulate the example of British government under David Cameron which allowed the Scottish nation to freely choose if they want to be part of the UK or not and most recently, allowed a referendum to be carried on whether Britain wants to continue to belong to European Union or not, Powerful vowed: “we IPOB will continue to demand the civilised world to prevail on Buhari to allow Biafrans to freely choose where they wish to belong.”

He added that, “the issue of Biafra self-determination cannot be swept under the carpet because Biafra is in black Africa where acceptable civilised standards are lacking. What is good for Scotland and Britain at large is also good for Biafra.

“We, therefore, urge the Attorney-General of the Federation to continue on this path of peaceful co-existence by releasing all Biafra detainees including the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose continued illegal detention is the primary reason why Nigeria is falling apart today.”