Biafra groups clash over Avengers

The activities of militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is causing a sharp division among pro-Biafra groups in the country.

While some groups agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra have identified with the NDA, others have distanced themselves from the militants group citing nonviolent approach to agitation for a sovereign state as the reason for their action.

The latest group to dissociate itself from the activities of the militants is the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) which on Tuesday, June 21, issued a statement distancing itself from any alignment with the NDA, Vanguard reports. The youth wing of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said it has no link with NDA  and neither MASSOB loyal to Chief Ralph Uwazurike has any link or pact with any militant group. BIM reacting to the statement credited to the factional MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu that MASSOB is in support of the NDA activities in the Niger Delta said it still believes that non-violent approach is the only panacea for the achievement of self-determination and actualization of sovereign state of Biafra.

The group urged the general public to disregard the statement made by Madu and warned that it would strip naked anybody including Madu if they did not change their approach towards actualization of Biafra. But reacting to BIM’s statement and threat, leader of MASSOB Uchenna Madu dismissed it as the ranting of an ant. Madu said that Uwazurike ceased to be the leader of MASSOB the day he was suspended and he allegedly confirmed his exit by declaring to the world that BIM is his new Biafra agitating group. He dismissed suggestions that MASSOB has a  youth wing, adding that anybody claiming to be representing and speaking for the youth wing of MASSOB is joking.

He also said that MASSOB has no faction, explaining that what BIM members call MASSOB youth wing is BIM youth wing. Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed why it believes the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu is making effort to stall his trial. In an interview with journalists at the court on Monday, June 20, counsel to the DSS, M. S Labaran who made the allegation said, a fresh motion on notice by the defendants was aimed at stalling trial. He said the motion on notice by the defendants is very fundamental and strongly worded, adding that the motion is important and requires the response of prosecution.

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Happening Now! Tension in court as Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer spits fire

The trial of the leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on Monday, June 20, took a different turn when his counsel accused the defendants of sidelining him.

At the resumed hearing today, June 20, the counsel to all the defendants – three of them – in the matter, Chuks Muoma told the court that felt embarrassed by the attitude of the accused persons.

Muoma said he was only informed about the second defendant’s decision to sack him. In his anger, he said he expected if his client had a change in counsel representation, he deserved to be in the know of their plans. Muoma further stated that: “And until that is settled, my appearance in this matter wi be conditional.” But in his defence, the new counsel who introduced himself as Amobi Nzelu to stand in for the second defendant, Benjamin Nwabugwu said it was not in his place to respond to the allegation.

Nzelu however said: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded but would have allowed the accused persons to respond over their decision. “But because I was accused of extracting one of his clients from him, as a lead in this matter I must respond,” Nzelu said. He added that it was only yesterday – Sunday, June 19 – that he was informed of his client’s decision to represent him. “When I left the prison yesterday, I put a call to one of the lawyers  – Ifeanyi Ejiofor – I was unable to reach him but later returned my call and told me he was away of the latest development,” he said. He said he had expected that he would have expected that the former counsel leada the defense while he resumes on the next trial date. He also explained to the court that himself (Nzelu) and Muoma hail from the same town in Anambra and cannot drag a client. “I cannot take a brief from my elder brother, my lord. So my elder brother let us settle this without involving the judge… It was just yesterday that I was briefed,” Nzelu said. Following this the judge on his quest to clarify matters asked Nwabugwu to tell the court who he wants to represent him. “I want to tell the court that Chief Amobi Nzelu is here to represent me as my new lawyer,” the second defendant said. The trio – Kanu, Nwabugwu and David Nwawuisi are currently facing trial for alleged possession of firearms and mismanagement of an unlawful society instituted against them by the Department of State Services.

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Breaking: Nnamdi Kanu arraigned in court for Treason (photos)

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was arraigned for treason along two others at the Federal High Court, Abuja today June 20th.

 

 

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Niger Delta militants announce ceasefire, demand immediate release of Kanu

The new militant group Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), which claimed affiliation with Niger Delta Avengers, has announced ceasefire, TheCable reports.

The militants had earlier vowed to launch six missiles in the region and to also lock down Nigeria’s airspace, but it said it resolved to do otherwise after the federal government proposed talks. Meanwhile, the group said government would have to follow its demand if it wants the peace to be continued.

JNDLF listed demands that comprised the immediate release of former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki, setback of the order to freeze the bank accounts of the former militant leader Tompolo, formation of Matitime University in Okerenkoko, Delta stateand others.

The group said in a statement: “We shall continue to engage in dialogue if our demands are met. Our representatives for the dialogue, especially the governors and others will not betray our demands with the federal government. Any betrayal on their own part shall be viewed as betrayal of the entire region and we shall go after them immediately as they know our mode of operation in which they will not escape from us. “There is no gainsaying that we made our earlier promise to launch six missiles simultaneously against some targeted areas. But this was waved aside as a result of appeals made to us through email by the federal government and some international nations to open talks with Buhari. “We saw some genuine aspiration on the part of Buhari, who made several contacts to us to see reason with them over the issue of under-development of the region. And since he (Buhari) had set the ball rolling for a clear negotiation with us, there is no problem without solution. We have therefore declared ceasefire in order to negotiate with the government if it is a true reflection of what they have in mind to develop the Niger Delta region.” The demands of the militants also comprise: – Implementation of the report of the 2014 national conference – Removal of Paul Boroh, coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme and should be replaced with Dr. Felix Tuodolo who has been in the struggle of non-violence since 1980 and he was the designer of the amnesty programme – Ready to negotiate with the federal government for the sake of monetary benefit to us but how genuinely the government will develop the region is at the centre of our discussion and anything less than that we will continue our struggle without further warning to the federal government – Immediate release of IPOB leader and Biafra Radio Director, Nnamdi Kanu.

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