“Having conquered Abakaliki successfully, the compassionate Biafra leader immediately diverted his normal route to search and extricate the stranded Biafrans…”
Okpanku is located in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Biafra land. Although they share blood ties with the people of Mpu, they equally share same language and community accent and ancestry with the people of Isiagu and Akaeze, both in Ebonyi State.
Of course, one would have asked, what brought about the caption of this piece. The question does not sound any rhetoric, rather our people usually say that “a toad does not run in the day time in vain, unless something is pursuing it.”
After holding extensive sensitization rallies in Okpanku on the need for Biafra restoration, there had been an excellent and progressive voluntary registration of locals into IPOB since this year. It was barely two weeks after they had joined host of other Biafrans on a solidarity visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, at his Afaraukwu residence in Umuahia. They passion had grown wild like the gale of the monsoon since after the courtesy visit.
It was on Monday, the 24th of July, 2017, that more than two hundred people with not less than twelve 18-seater buses, left Okpanku to receive the IPOB leader who had visited Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital. Also, among the group, were our brethren from Isiagu, Ebonyi state.
However, the surging crowd of these intrepid Biafrans made a beautiful sight before the hand-waving villagers who admired their resoluteness as they left. Unknown to them, was an unforseen obstacle ahead, and a possible sadness. Yet, they drove through Akaeze towards Abakaliki chanting Biafra freedom songs. Their hope and optimism soon dashed to the rocks, as they approached the Nigerian police right in their front, ahead of them. They had almost driven into Abakaliki when these set of policemen hindered and held them to a standstill at Ikwo road. That was sad indeed!
Agents of the Nigeria Police Force, confiscated their Biafra themed flags, caps, bangles, mufflers, veils, shirts and all materials branded in Biafran colours were seized from them. It is very paramount to note that all the materials symbolizing patriotism to the Biafra struggle was forcefully snatched from them at gunpoint.
More than 30 policemen masterminded this nefarious act with impunity. Each of them clutched an AK47 assault rifles in their hands, only to intimidate and humiliate innocent and harmless Biafrans. The unconscionable security operatives tried, but the ever fearless and resolute Biafrans resisted strenuous efforts to get them dragged to the police station. At that juncture, both the Corps and the ever undaunted Biafrans remained trapped and motionless.
It might interest you to know, that despite all the unnecessary and irrational provocation on the part of the Police, the hostage-held Biafrans continued to chant Biafra freedom songs fearlessly loud and wild even at gunpoint. At this point, the now exasperated policemen felt emotionally disarmed, though feigning ignorance of their bravery. Nevertheless, we are not oblivious to the fact that the secret of the mouth is first known by the chewing stick.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had arrived at Abakaliki and the whole city basked with the glory and euphoria of the wind of Biafra. But he had not been aware that his people from Okpanku had been held stationary at Ikwo road. Over here in Enugu, Ikenna Obasi, an indigene of Okpanku and family member of IPOB in the State, received distress calls from the marooned Biafrans. He extended the call to the Coordinator, and subsequently to our formidable information manager, Mr. Gabriel Harley Chijioke who mobilized the
