March 4, 2024
The Nigerian Army troops say they successfully cleared IPOB/ESN hideout at Ihiteukwa Community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, neutralising one IPOB/ESN terrorist after an intense firefight on Saturday.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Nwachukwu said the troops conducted a search in their hideout and recovered three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one Toyota Highlander SUV, and one Hilux vehicle after overpowering the criminals.
He said that other items recovered include eight rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, six rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, and one locally fabricated single barrel gun.
“Other items recovered from the terrorists’ hideout include a pair of proscribed Biafran uniforms, one solar panel, and one CCTV camera.
“Troops also recovered 10 mobile phones, batteries, a bundle of proscribed Biafran currency, three solar street lights, three jungle hats, pairs of black boots, and assorted charms,” he said.
Nwachukwu said the troops had, in another encounter, engaged IPOB/ESN terrorists at their crossing point in the Akawa Nneato area of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia.
He said the troops engaged the terrorists in a firefight, resulting in the terrorists scampering in disarray into nearby bushes.
“On exploiting further after the shootout, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, two empty magazines, and one FN rifle loaded with four rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.
“In another development, troops operating in the Kawara general area of Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State have cleared and destroyed a series of terrorists’ camps in the area.
“During the operation, troops recovered three motorbikes, one PKT Gun link containing 246 rounds of 7.62mm by 39mm ammunition, one woodland camouflage, and a pair of Desert boots.
“Other items recovered include three magazine carriers and one Boafeng Radio.
“Troops have dominated the general area and conducting further exploits in pursuit of the insurgents.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of citizens and will continue to sustain operations to sanitise troubled areas in order to restore peace and stability in the country,” he added.
October 6, 2023
The Supreme Court has fixed December 15 to deliver judgment on the appeal seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had in a judgment delivered on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s release.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court also quashed the terrorism charges filed against the IPOB leader by the Federal Government.
However, dissatisfied with the judgment, the Federal Government appealed at the Supreme Court.
At the proceedings on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, fixed the matter for judgment after the parties adopted their final briefs.
While adopting his final brief, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozehkome (SAN), urged the court to not only order the immediate release of Kanu but to also award a heavy punitive cost against the government.
“We urge My Lords to uphold our cross-appeal and do substantial justice to this matter in favour of the respondent who has been in detention since June 29, 2021, even after the lower court ordered his release. My Lords should also order that he should never be prosecuted again on the same counts.
“They are still holding him unconstitutionally. We pray My Lords to deliver justice and use this case, just like in Ojukwu vs. State, to demonstrate that no man or government should be above the law,” Ozekhome said.
However, FG’s lawyer, Tijani Ghazali (SAN), urged the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which ordered Kanu’s release.
He also prayed for the court to order the resumption of his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges.
July 18, 2023
The Governor of Enugu state, Mr. Peter Mbah has put action to words in tackling the Sit-At-Home order that has kept the state from economic activities as declared by IPOB. Full academic and business activities resumed in Enugu State, yesterday, as the government intensified efforts to eradicate the order imposed by proscribed Biafra agitators.
Governor Peter Mbah, who monitored compliance with the forced restriction, yesterday, warned traders at Ogbete Main Market, Garki, Kenyetta and other places that locking shops on Mondays would no longer be condoned.
“We are going to revoke your license to operate. We will revoke your shop titles and reallocate them to someone else who is ready to do business. This is something we must enforce with effect from Monday, next week.
“There are also consequences for not heeding our orders. Going forward, I want to put you on notice. I will go round the state again on Monday. We are going to come with the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority to put a seal on any shop that is found locked on Monday, because of an illegal sit-at-home order. We would take it that you are not ready to do business.”
There was improved vehicular and human movement, as well as enhanced security patrol in Enugu, yesterday. Although the entrance to the markets was wide open with security operatives at strategic locations, many shops were under lock and key. However, other smaller markets like Major, Abakp and Artisan markets were a beehive of activities as they operated fully.
The state secretariat was also full of activities, as civil servants reported to work. A source noted that compliance by workers with the governor’s directive was complemented with provision of buses for workers.
Besides public schools, many private institutions were opened, indicating they were complying with the governor’s directive. School authorities expressed confidence that the counter measure had come to stay, given the level of security arrangements on ground.
Mbah assured residents that adequate security had been provided, observing that there had not been any incident of attacks since the ban on the sit-at-home in June.
The governor, who took time to interact with business owners, shoppers, traders and civil servants at the state secretariat, said: “It should never be heard that we were cowed, because of the threat of violence by these criminals. The poverty that will befall us for sitting at home will kill us even faster.
“We lose over N10 billion every Monday. Enough is enough. This foolishness must end, and it must end now. We cannot marginalise ourselves and still complain of marginalisation.”
“So, we must say no to sit-at-home, because what it means is that we are destroying our employment, our economy, and our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We must erase it from our memories. We should see it as our shameful past, which we do not want to remember. We must put it behind us and forge ahead, ensuring that we work every working day of the week.”
March 17, 2023
The Indigenous People of Biafra has decried the IEP Global Terrorism Index Report of 2022 as a conspiracy by the Federal Government of Nigeria and its Cronies to paint the group in bad light.
IPOB was reacting to the report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, which had rated it number 10 “deadliest terror group” globally.
In a statement on Thursday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it was disappointing that a reputable organisation such as IEP would descend so low to publish “fictional and inaccurate accounts in their 2022 terrorism index report”.
IPOB said an extract from the report released by the global research group showed a great contradiction from what was supposed to be assumed as a research and investigatory group.
Powerful, therefore, insisted that IPOB remained peaceful but resolute in the pursuit of Biafra liberation through a UN-supervised referendum, adding that they were not going to be distracted by sponsored blackmail and propaganda.
