21 Biafra agitators allegedly in detention for 10 years as group calls for referendum
21 Biafra agitators have been in detention for the past 10 years according to concerned pro-Biafra agitators under the auspices of Biafra National Guard (BNG).
Biafra protest somewhere in eastern Nigeria
In a report by the Sun, the group petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Salami (SAN), over the detention of their members.
The group claimed that the 21 members have been in detention since 2007 without trial.
According to the petition, the 21 freedom fighters have been incarcerated in Onitsha and Awka prisons for the last 10 years without an option of bail.
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The sun also reported that the BNG Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ruben Okoro accused the State Department of Public Prosecution and Judges of unduly prolonging the case through long adjournments.
The list of the detained pro-Biafran agitators who have been in detention since 2007 according to the petition include; Innocent Orji, Sabastine Amadi, Casmir Odakara, Ojemba Anyanwu, Eni Kalu, Ndubisi Okam, Ikechukwu Chikwem, Emmanuel Orji, Chukwuma Kalu, Chidiebere Ezekwem and Mmaduabuchi Asika.
Others are Uche Idikaigbo, Uchenna Nicholas, Peter Igbokwe, Ikechukwu Aghara, Ama Onuh, Chukwuebuka Ikenwa, Onyekachi Orji, Okwudiri Bassey, Chima Asor and Chinwendu Irondi.
Calling for a comprehensive investigation of the matter, the group urged the AGF to give accelerated hearing to the case or discharge and acquit the detained agitators.
The petition read in part: “Since 2007 till today, none of the detainees have been given audience, fair hearing, justice and judgment. We want you to investigate the DPP and Judges for their regular absence in court which has resulted in prolonged adjournments as a delay tactic to frustrate the detainees and make them languish in prisons on awaiting trial.”
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“Now almost all of them have lost their parents, children and relations and could not witness their burial ceremonies. For instance, one of the detained Biafran, Innocent Orji, lost his father in 2012 and his mother in 2016,” it further lamented.
The group which insisted that they have adopted a peaceful approach for self-determination also seized the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to conduct a referendum on the state of Biafra.
“Our quest for this peaceful approach to self-determination is not an act of cowardice,” the group said.
Significantly, the agitation for the recognition for an independent Biafra state took a disappointing dip as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) confirmed that they do not accept the "Biafran passport" because the supposed independent country is not recognised.
In the video below, pupils of a primary school in the eastern part of Nigeria can bee seen singing and calling for Biafra.