TENSION IN SOUTH EAST AS BIAFRIA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY HOLDS TODAY

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday alleged that surveillance aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other security agencies were hovering over the house of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

But the group and its sister organisation, the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), insisted that the sit-at-home it ordered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Biafra declaration must hold today.

Investigation in South-East, yesterday, also revealed that there was panic buying in some cities while ATM machines had long queues of people making withdrawals.

IPOB had declared a sitat- home on May 30 saying it was to remember those who lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War and sectarian killings.

In a statement signed by IPOB spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group stressed that the security agencies were heating up the polity and trying to create a hostile atmosphere where there was none.

It said that a combined team of soldiers and police yesterday shot sporadically in Aba where IPOB members were doing evangelism over the event.

The statement said: “Similarly, the aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force have been hovering around Umuahia near the home of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Right now, the people living around Afara Ukwu, Ibeku are running away from their homes in fear and apprehension.

We are calling on men and women of good conscience and relevant global agencies to call the barbaric Nigerian government and her security agencies to order.”

In the commercial city of Aba, the IPOB leadership explained that the exercise was not by force or compulsion as there would be no form of demonstration or rally of any kind.

It said that a combined team of soldiers and police yesterday shot sporadically in Aba where IPOB members were doing evangelism over the event.

The statement said: “Similarly, the aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force have been hovering around Umuahia near the home of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Right now, the people living around Afara Ukwu, Ibeku are running away from their homes in fear and apprehension.

We are calling on men and women of good conscience and relevant global agencies to call the barbaric Nigerian government and her security agencies to order.”

In the commercial city of Aba, the IPOB leadership explained that the exercise was not by force or compulsion as there would be no form of demonstration or rally of any kind.

Source:New Telegraph