The move by a group, Biafra National Guard (BNG) to declare “Biafra Sovereignty” in the Southeast, in Saturday October 30, did not hold, even as residents defied an alleged order to observe sit-at-home as a mark of solidarity.

Social and economic activities were in full swing in the region, as residents moved about their lawful duties, contrary to the group’s directive.

Members of the group, led by their Commander, “Gen” Innocent Orji, were seen in a recorded video circulating on the social media, declaring that the “liberation of Biafra has begun.”

The men, who were dressed in military camouflage and well-armed, were seen fuelling their vehicles at a petrol station in readiness for the “war to liberate Biafra.”

Orji, in the recorded video, claimed that they returned from Israel and that “October 30 is going to be the re-declaration of Biafra Sovereignty.”

He said: “We are already on ground to go and liberate prisoners of conscience, including Onyekachi Orji and the rest of them that have been imprisoned in the last 15 years. We are fuelling our various vehicles in readiness for war. We have said the Anambra election will not hold. We have said we will reintroduce the Biafra currency. This is the day two of the glorious week of Biafra.”

Some of the vehicles in their convoy include such Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) as Prado, Hilux and Highlander, among others.

Although, it could not be ascertained why the alleged “declaration” could not hold yesterday, unconfirmed sources, however, said it might not be unconnected with encounters members of the group had few days ago with the Nigerian soldiers, which claimed lives.

On the evening of Thursday, October 28, troops conducting Exercise Golden Dawn in the Southeast killed a member of the Biafra National Guard at Amaekpu, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

Reports said the assailants, who were heavily armed and conveyed in several vehicles, opened fire on the troops’ location, but were met with stiff resistance. It was gathered that the gunmen, majority of whom received gunshot injuries, abandoned their vehicles and retreated in disarray, while pump action guns and vehicles, among others, were recovered from them.

On October 29, four members of the group were killed after an alleged fierce gun battle at Nnobi Junction, Idemili south local government in Anambra State.

Members of the group had earlier attacked and killed two officials of the DSS at the Ekwulobia Roundabout in Aguata local government council of the state.

It was gathered that the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, one Galil Ace 5.56×45 Iwi gun, one Avofeng handheld radio and an SUV.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied links with BNG, saying its activities did not correspond with that of IPOB’s fundamental objectives.

A statement, yesterday, by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said: “We have observed the unpatriotic and nefarious activities of this group, and we hereby unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the group and its activities. This group has no link whatsoever with IPOB and doesn’t work for IPOB, which has nothing to do with any group associated with criminality. Our mandate is peaceful restoration of Biafra; anything other than this will have nothing to do with us.

“Our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, does not encourage criminality or any action injurious to the people of Biafra. We don’t encourage extortion or forceful collection of fuel and other lubricants from any petrol station in Biafraland. This is criminality that cannot be condoned in Biafra land…”

Guardian

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Saturday, slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for what he termed its poor management of the nation’s economy.

Atiku who stated this at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP national elective convention in Abuja, scored the All Progressives Congress, APC government low on virtually all development indices said President Buhari simply failed to make the most of the opportunity Nigerians availed him of when he was first elected in 2015 and again in 2019.

He said: “Today, our country is going through the most trying and difficult period of its existence. I can tell you that I am 70 years plus but I have never seen this country in such a very bad shape, so disunited, so much unemployment, so much insecurity in its history.

“The social and security challenges in all corners along with the lingering tension surrounding the very nature of our corporate existence as a nation, Nigeria is at the edge of because of the lackluster performance and complacency of successive administrations, culminating in the gross failure of this APC-led government.

“As we ruminate the problems of our great country as a nation, let us consider this: we have a chance now to set the ship on the right course. We have the chance to atone for the mistake of past leadership and our collective past mistakes.

“We have the chance to unite the country on the part towards greatness to achieve and exceed the dreams of our founding fathers who fought for independence so many years ago. A chance to seize the opportunity to steer our country towards its rightful position among the comity of nations.

“We can save ourselves and the party and we can save Nigeria together. We have our differences and we will face daunting challenges along the way but we can face and overcome anything if we can only join hands and work together on this noble course.

“The PDP is not perfect, and as humans, none of us is perfect. But we continue to work everyday to learn from and correct our mistakes. The APC has proven itself to be ill-equip to lead the nation. They have shown themselves to be corrupt, in fact, the most corrupt, sectional and divisive party that was never prepared to lead this country.

“The responsibility therefore is for us to arrest the downward spiral of the Nigerian nation and save the country from even greater calamities. This is our collective responsibility.

“We must set aside our differences. We must bring forth our brightest lights and position themselves to rescue, restore and rebuild the foundation so that we can usher in prosperity, decency, security, economic growth, reduce unemployment and restore dignity of our country.

“I am appealing to members of our great party and to all Nigerians to shun our past differences, to set aside political machinations and scheming and wrestle power from the APC.

“The APC has comprehensively failed Nigerians for the past six years. This time is a critical juncture for us politicians to work together to return Nigerians on the part of growth and development. The unity of key players in the PDP is an extension of the unity of Nigerians.

“I believe we should return and focus the party on part of competence. I believe we should gather our technocrats, our greatest minds to join us in charting the way forward for the party in the country.”