TENSION AS NIGERIAN SOLDIERS INVADE ACHA COMMUNITY, TEARING DOWN BIAFRA FLAGS AND HARASING YOUNG MEN.
The intimidations and harassments against the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, by the Nigeria security forces has continued unabatedly even as the Federal High Court, Abuja has declared that they are lawful and have the right to convene. Recall, Amnesty International has indicted the Nigeria security forces for extra judicial killings and violence against the people of Biafra. The international human right watchdog has called for an independent enquiry into the matter and has also demanded that the Nigeria government stop the killing and violence against the people of Biafra.
Reports reaching Biafra Reporters (Biafra Post) revealed that recently the quiet community of Acha, located in Isuikwuato local government of Abia state, was invaded and ransacked by the Nigeria Army. The team of soldiers invaded the community in the morning hours when villagers were on their way to their workplaces, farms and schools. The soldiers did not state their mission to anyone but began a random arrest of every young male they sighted. Those arrested were taken round the community and forced to climb every electric poles or structure on which Biafra flags were hung. The arrested young men were tortured and then released by the soldiers who threatened to come back if any Biafra flag is seen in any part of the community.
One of the victims of the mass arrest spoke to this reporter and confirmed the incident, he cried bitterly over the manner the Nigeria soldiers dealt with them because of the Biafra flags found in the community. When probed about his opinion on the struggle for the restoration of Biafra, the victim said, “I have never taken it serious until today because I am not aware of those responsible for hanging the Biafra flag on most of the electric poles in the community, “some people have come to preach about Biafra to me but I usually don’t take them serious but because of what happened to me today I will look for them and join the struggle” he continued. Efforts to speak to the traditional ruler of Acha community was futile as of the time of filing this report but it is believed in most quarter that he has no preemptive information about the illegal raid.
The coordinator of IPOB Isuikwuato Zone, Promise Chikemezu, called the incident “laughable” when contacted by this reporter. Chikemezu said he is surprised that the soldiers are coming now even when the Biafra flags have been flying in every part of the community for over two years. He spoke as thus; “That community was the first place to be inaugurated in Isuikwuato local government and the Biafra flag have been flying since the day of the inauguration and was recently replaced with brand new ones so as to prepare for the commemoration of the May 30th Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day. The invasion of the soldiers into the community is only a revelation that the coming of Biafra is near, if the Biafra flag is their problem then the Nigeria Army should get ready because for every flag that was removed from each pole, we will replace it with two brand new ones.” The Isuikwuato IPOB coordinator maintained that they will not be cowed by the Nigeria government and demanded for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as ordered by the court.
Acha community had earlier cried out over the invasion of their farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen but the Nigeria security forces did not respond to their call for help. The Biafra Post reported the herdsmen incident and called on Uche Ogah of Masters Energy to confine the herdsmen to the land which he had allegedly donated to them for grazing. Acha community has always remained peaceful and law abiding and its people are hereby notifying the global community of the threat against them by the Nigeria Army because of their willingness to exercise their right to self-determination.
