₦airaland Forum

Several people were killed on Sunday, as Nigerian soldiers were said to have opened fire on residents at Orlu Local Council of Imo State.

It was gathered that the soldiers stormed various communities in the local government in pick-up trucks shortly after nightfall and started shooting sporadically, as they searched for suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitators causing mayhem in the state.

It wasn’t clear how many people were killed as of press time, but a source whose neighbour was shot dead by the soldiers said no fewer than four persons had been killed in what appears to be a gross violation of fundamental rights.

“Four people have been killed by the soldiers. They are looked for IPOB members but killing innocent citizens,” he said, pleading anonymity for fear of being attacked.

When contacted yesterday, Imo State police spokesman, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the incident but said he is not authorised to speak on what transpired. He said, “Since the police were not involved in the incident, I can’t speak. The military should speak on what happened there. I don’t work with them.”

Efforts to reach the military were unsuccessful, as its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, did not respond to calls and text messages on the incidents and the number of casualties.

IN another development, troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army (NA), on Easter Sunday, neutralised alleged members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Ihioma community in Orlu Local Council of Imo State.

According to army spokesman, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, “Troops on routine patrol encountered members of the group who fired sporadically at Banana Junction to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order on law abiding citizens going about their legitimate businesses.

“The IPOB/ESN criminals, on sighting the troops, withdrew in a blue Toyota Highlander vehicle and headed towards Ihioma community for reinforcement.

“In the fire-fight that ensued during the operation, one of the criminals was taken out, while others fled in disarray. Troops are combing the area in a follow up operations to track down the fleeing dissidents.

MEANWHILE, a group, South East Initiative (SEI), yesterday, called on politicians and other gladiators to save the zone from further destruction by going about their 2023 aspirations in accordance with the rules.

The group lamented the growing insecurity that was daily creating fears in the people and raised concerns about attacks on politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the region.

SEI noted that unless concerted efforts aimed at addressing current security challenges in the zone are made, a time would come when it would be difficult to do any business in the region.

Bulldozer90:
Seems she kept a good record. How come I never heard of her. Where is she from?

First national vice president of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the second republic, Chief (Mrs) Oyibo Odinamadu is dead.

Odinamadu died in the United States of America at the age of 94 years.

Daughter of the deceased, Ifeatu Onubogu made this disclosure in a statement sent to the Nigerian Tribune.

Onubogu wrote: “We thank God for a long life well spent as we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt, High Chief (Ichie Sir (Mrs) Oyibo Ekwulo Odinamadu on Wednesday March 30, 2022 at the age of 94.”

During Odinamadu’s lifetime, a staunch Awoist, Ebenezer Babatope described the deceased as a woman who was “very brilliant, strong and militant.”

Babatope lauded Odinamadu for performing excellently as national vice president of the UPN.

Among her many firsts, Odinamadu was the first female university graduate from the former Eastern Region of Nigeria, first Igbo woman to get a driving license and drive a car as well as the first indigenous principal of both Womens’ Training College Enugu and Queens School Enugu.

EastisBae:
There weren't much difference between Lagos and P.H in the 1950's and 1960's. The city was then known as garden city because of its serenity and beauty. By then Igbos had started bringing investments and Igbo Union was headquartered there. Then after the war, they seized Igbo properties and began anti Igbo policy. That was the beginning of the city's downfall. Most of our investments that went to Lagos, Abuja and the rest would have gone to P.H.

If the 1960's momentum had been maintained, Lagos won't even be ahead of P.H today because being the base of the multi billion dollars oil industry would have neutralized Lagos advantage of being the capital. Today, instead of competing with Lagos, P H isn't much better than Owerri. In fact, aside the bridges and a couple of buildings like the secteriate and NDDC, there is nothing more to write home about.

Unknown gunmen have reportedly attacked security operatives and set a Nigerian Customs Service van ablaze along Issele-Azagba, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the gunmen ambushed the police and the vigilantes at the customs checkpoint.

“There were heavy gunshots along Issele-Azagba, Wednesday evening by unknown gunmen.

“They attacked security men along the highway and shot discriminately, in the process they set ablaze custom van” a witness narrated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, on Thursday confirmed the attack, saying that no police were killed in the attack.

He said, “The armed robbers shot at the vigilante group but they quickly took cover, no death was recorded.

“They attacked vigilante men but the vigilante quickly took cover. Nobody died.”

CHINA won't air Premier League matches this weekend due to planned shows of support for Ukraine.

The Prem has expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people following Russia's controversial invasion, which has led to at least 752 casualties so far.


China won't air Premier League matches this weekend due to show of support for Ukraine
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China won't air Premier League matches this weekend due to show of support for UkraineCredit: PA
The Premier League is set to show support for Ukraine after Russia's invasion
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The Premier League is set to show support for Ukraine after Russia's invasionCredit: Getty
Shows of support for Ukraine will be shown from Saturday until Monday
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Shows of support for Ukraine will be shown from Saturday until MondayCredit: AP
According to the BBC, China will pull TV coverage of the English top flight this weekend because there will be organised support during matches.

And the country appears against broadcasting the world siding with Ukraine at this difficult hour.

China is Russia's largest trading partner and one of the few nations globally that has not condemned president Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

The Premier League agreed a deal with streaming platform iQiyi Sports to become the exclusive digital broadcast partner in China last summer.


The agreement is expected to last until the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Last season, the Prem agreed a one-year deal with Tencent, which was reportedly worth less than $10million (£7.5m) per season.


Prem captains will wear yellow and blue armbands this weekend while the big screens at stadiums will display messages that read 'Football Stands Together'.

A Premier League statement read: "The Premier League and our clubs wholeheartedly reject Russia’s actions and will be showing support for the people of Ukraine at all matches this weekend.


"We call for peace and our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted.

"A show of solidarity for Ukraine will be visible at all Premier League matches from Saturday 5 to Monday 7 March.

"This follows the numerous ways in which clubs have already demonstrated their support.

The Premier League has already been showing support for the Ukrainian people
4
The Premier League has already been showing support for the Ukrainian peopleCredit: AP
"The 20 club captains will wear special armbands in Ukrainian colours and fans are encouraged to join players, managers, match officials and club staff in a moment of reflection and solidarity before kick-off at each game.


"Big screens at stadiums will display 'Football Stands Together' against the backdrop of the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.

"These words will also be shown on LED perimeter boards during matches.

"This message of solidarity will also be visible to fans around the world across Premier League digital channels.

"Logos and profiles on those platforms will change to represent the colours of the Ukrainian flag, which will also be displayed across match broadcasts both in the UK and overseas"

By Owei Lakemfa

THE eight-year war in Ukraine took a dramatic turn yesterday when Russian troops officially rolled into the country on the side of the separatist rebels in Eastern Ukraine. It was also to insist on its position that Ukraine’s decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, threatens Russia’s security.

Ukraine which since 2014 had declared itself at war with Russia, had on November 25, 2018 sent two gunboats, the Nikopol and the Berdyansk, and a tug boat, the Yani Kapu, into the Kerch Strait in the Crimea to confront the Russian Navy units. However, none of the previous confrontations compares with this week’s military conflicts which Russia claims is a limited military operation to “demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine” but which the latter says is an outright invasion.

Months of claims by NATO of an impending Russian invasion had been capped this month by the United States deciding to send troops to Romania and Poland. However, events took a dramatic turn on Monday, February 21, 2022 when Russian President, Vladimir Putin, called an exraordinary meeting of the country’s security council.

Three things struck me about this meeting. The first was that its deliberations were public. Second, a conclusion that Russia had been pushed to the wall with the infliction of renewed Western sanctions and non-respect of Russian position on the Eastward expansion of NATO.

The third was a complaint about the non-implementation of previous agreements, including the Minsk I &II Protocols designed to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, therefore, decided to recognise the two breakaway Ukrainian Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The next day, the Russian parliament, the Duma, voted to give Putin permission to use military force outside the country. On Wednesday, Donetsk and Luhansk formally requested that Russian troops be sent into their separatist republics.

Next morning, Russian troops began pouring, not just into the East, but also other parts of Ukraine. Putin’s announced intention is the protection of the civilian populations in the Eastern Region and regime change while the Ukrainian government said it is an attempt to occupy the country.

American President Joe Biden claimed the Russian attack is “unprovoked”. What is his deploying American troops to the region, especially Poland, if not provocation? The United States would not have allowed Chinese troops pouring into Mexico or Russia setting up missiles in Cuba; so how does it expect Russia to lie back as it is being surrounded by hostile NATO troops?

There are various declarations such as the European Union threatening to impose the “harshest sanctions ever” on Russia. But it is easier for those countries to issue threats from the safety of their countries while the Ukrainians do the dying and witness their country and ec

A major casualty in the war would be the truth as all sides rev up their propaganda. Within hours of the attacks, the Ukrainian government announced it had destroyed five Russian war planes and an helicopter. On the other hand, the Russians who denied the Ukranian claims, announced they had neutralised the Ukranian defence system. Eventually, the truth would lie in the rubbles of the war.

The wars in Ukraine have their origins in a country polarised between a war-mongering EU/NATO and an edgy Russian bear. The immediate trigger was the 2014 coup against elected President Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian politician from Eastern Ukraine who, back in 2004, had been denied the Presidency after winning a runoff.

This time, he was overthrown in a violent coup because his government preferred to sign a trade agreement with Russia rather than with the EU. For the East Ukrainians who had put their fate in free and fair elections, this second coup against a political leader from their side seemed too much a price to pay and they made a battle cry: ‘To your tents Oh Israel!’

It is that civil war that has now festered into a full scale international war with the Russians backing the rebels and NATO propping up the government in Kiev.

In my November 30, 2018 analysis of the Ukrainian War titled ‘Ukraine’s Farcical Drama’, I had written that: “The disputes in Ukraine are likely to go on for a long time, but I think the country shot itself in the foot by using the populace of one part of the country to overthrow the legitimately elected government led by politicians from another part of the country.”

I had argued that the military option adopted by Kiev would not lead to peace and that if Ukraine were to witness peace and reunite “it may need to consider the restoration of the Yanukovych administration as part of national reconciliation; if this seems far-fetched, so does the reunification of the country.”

Fortunately, in May 2019, Ukraine was able to replace the infantile, warmongering President Petro Poroshenko with a more sensible President Volodymyr Zelensky who in the April 21 rerun trounced the incumbent by taking 73.22 per cent of the votes, with Poroshenko clinching 24.45 per cent.

Although a comedian by profession, Zelensky was dead serious about bringing peace. But apparently, the warmongers have had the upper hand and war has not only continued, but escalated. There are lots of propaganda around the conflicts in Ukraine.

But the war on ground would neither be lost nor won on propaganda but by reworking the failed diplomacy that has led to today’s events. It might be fashionable or profitable to blame Russia, but what do you do with the so-called international community that has pretended for eight years that those dying in Eastern Ukraine never existed?

I am not sure anybody knows what the outcome of these unnecessary conflicts will be. The solution I see is: first, a de-escalation of the conflict, a ceasefire by all sides, including in Eastern Ukraine and a negotiated settlement.

A resuscitation of the Minsk Agreements is a good place to begin. The United Nations, UN, should concentrate on these rather than hold endless meetings seeking to blame one side or the other. The UN Security Council should be put to better use rather than turn it into a debating club where accusations and counter-accusations fly.

The contending forces in Europe and America are far too gone in their politics of self-justification and blame to be useful in the process. Germany that had hitherto played a more reconciliatory role has now been sucked into the fray.

Perhaps other parts of the world, especially the underdeveloped world, might be more useful. Fortunately, Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, is in Moscow; can he begin to lay the foundations for a peaceful resolution? At this time, we miss a leader like Nelson Mandela.

Gunmen have reportedly killed three police officers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s South-east.

The officers were gunned down on Monday night in front of a police station along the Enugu-Abakaliki highway, a source told PREMIUM TIMES.

The officers were said to be manning a roadblock in front of the station when the gunmen opened fire on them

The source said the gunmen were in a bus, and that the officers may have mistaken it for a commercial vehicle.

“The remains of the three police (officers) have been deposited at a mortuary in Abakaliki after they were confirmed dead by doctors,” he said.

The police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.


She, however, said she could not give details of the casualty until after a visit to the scene of the incident.

Several police officers were shot dead in Enugu State in two separate attacks at checkpoints last week by gunmen.

The Ebonyi incident may indicate a return of the deadly attacks on the police and other security agencies in the South-east.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for it, the attack may be linked to the outlawed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which is leading the agitation for an independent state, Biafra, which they want carved out of the South-east and a part of the South-south regions.


IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is detained in Abuja, where he is standing trial for alleged treasonable felony and terrorism.

ThankGodFriday:
Do Alfas watch Nigerian music too?
Trying to blame musicians

babyboy4every1:
U dey mind him. Na naija music as usual. Na naija music corrupt hush puppy too. Some writers don have sense

Oga Reno zukwanu like stop causing conflict with this tribe thing abeg. We are all Nigerians"

Dear eberedicksonolejeme,
I really don’t understand you and those who have attacked me just like you. Why should praise of Yoruba music cause conflict? Why is it not causing conflict with others? I have written 7 articles for ThisDay in praise of Igbo culture. Why did those articles (which are still hosted in ThisDay’s archives) not cause crisis?
Does it mean that nobody can praise any ethnic nationality in Nigeria, except yours, for fear of causing conflict?
There is a young European boy on TikTok and Instagram named @iam_tiagoishola. This boy has devoted his life to the promotion of Yoruba culture, because, as he says it, it is a very attractive culture.
Will you now attack him because he is causing conflict?
Did you caution me when I wrote the attached viral article titled “The Igbo as a Blessing to Nigeria” on August 23, 2016?
Did you caution me when I wrote another viral article titled “The Igbo Are The Engine Of The Vehicle Called Nigeria” on March 10, 2019?
Did you caution me when Daily Trust wrote an editorial against me for praising the Igbo as the real richest people in Nigeria, if they had government support like others on September 7, 2020?
Are you aware that many Northerners think Onyeka Onwenu is my mother and I am Igbo because of my articles in praise of the Igbo? I have written more positively about the Igbo ethnicity than I have of any ethnic group. So why the conflict?
So, why now Ebere? Why now? Is this how to realise the Presidency much of my beloved brothers from your area want? By feeling insecure when others are praised?
#TableShaker

gidgiddy:
The colonial masters realised they were more of Northerners than Southerners and carved them into Northern Nigeria

Two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were killed on Friday in Anambra.

The officers were attacked as gunmen ambushed their convoy while on election campaign duty in Ekwulobia.

Videos showing the aftermath of the attack are circulating on social media.


The footages and photos show the extent of firepower against the security agents as bullets riddled windshields of vehicles.

Joint forces comprising the police and the military have taken over the area.

The bodies of the deceased were hurriedly taken away from the scene as several residents converged.

Attacks in Anambra are on the rise ahead of the November 6 governorship election.

Some gunmen on Tuesday attacked the Divisional Police Station, Kolo, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, killing one of the policemen on duty.

SaharaReporters gathered that other officers escaped with bullet wounds.

The gunmen after killing the policeman ransacked the whole station and made away with some ammunition.

Residents said the gunmen numbering six, shot at a police team searching vehicles in front of the station.

The deceased was said to have been rushed to the hospital where he received medical attention but later died.

Spokesman for the state police command, Asinim Butswat confirmed the incident.

He said the police have launched a tactical investigation into the incident.

“Yes, it happened at Divisional Police Station, Kolo, Ogbia, a police Inspector was killed, not a sergeant,” Butswat told SaharaReporters.

Abujason:
[/color]
I’m amazed we have these many cowards in Nigeria on Nairaland. The man was brave to put on that outfit without intimidation to make a statement. The rest of you here making noise including Shame George are simply suffering and smiling.
I spit on all of you.

You’re wearing Biafran flag – Actress, Shan George reacts as Chiwetalu Agu denies supporting secessionistsPublished on October 8, 2021 By Annie Nwosu

Nollywood actress, Shan George has reacted to a video of Chiwetalu Agu denying that the outfit he was wearing when he was arrested is the Biafran flag.

The veteran actor was arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army for wearing Biafra-themed clothing at Upper Iweka Road, Onitsha.

Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, confirming his arrest, said the veteran actor was apprehended for inciting members of the public and soliciting support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

However, in a viral video after his arrest, Chiwetalu Agu said he was sharing bread to hungry Nigerians and not demonstrating for anyone to join Biafra.

According to him, his outfit is just a dress with a rising sun and not anyway representing the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

Reacting, Shan George, in a post via her Instagram account, urged the actor to own up to his fight for freedom.

She noted that there was nothing absolutely wrong with fighting for freedom adding that Nigeria once fought to be freed from the British colonialists.

”My dear brother, you are clearly wearing a Biafra flag and you should own it with your full chest.

”I don’t get all the rising sun English you are speaking. I personally see nothing wrong in certain people fighting for their freedom.

”Nigeria fought for theirs from the British before 1960. Scotland and the rest fought for theirs too, at least you were not carrying any arms, fighting for freedom peacefully shouldn’t be a crime, own your fight with your full chest,” she wrote.

Banks in the South-East region of Nigeria have started bringing down the Nigerian flag from their poles, SaharaReporters has learnt.

This comes a few days after the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) urged its members to remove all Nigerian flags mounted in "Biafra land."

The group had also declared another sit-at-home on October 1, 2021, when Nigeria will be celebrating its 61st Independence anniversary.

Meanwhile, sources in the region told SaharaReporters that even though IPOB had directed that banks should be left alone, the financial institutions themselves have started bringing down their Nigerian flags over fear of attacks.

A source in Enugu told SaharaReporters that Access Bank at Holy Ghost Junction in Enugu, the state capital has brought down all the flags on the poles on its premises, including the Nigerian flag.

He said, “Access Bank at Holy Ghost junction, the old park has brought down the flags. There's nothing on the poles anymore.”

Another resident in the region said Zenith Bank at Onitsha in Anambra has pulled down the Nigerian flag from their poles too.

He said, “I can also confirm that Zenith Bank, Onitsha removed all their flags.”

Another resident said, “United Bank for Africa (UBA), Owerri Road branch, Onitsha removed all their flags —Nigerian flags and even that of the bank, they didn't just lower the flags, they pulled the flags off.”

Also in Awka, Anambra State capital, Wema Bank, Access Bank and Zenith Bank branches have removed their Nigerian flags, leaving only their company flags on their poles, SaharaReporters learnt.

Also, pictures of banks in the region without flags on their poles have circulated on social media.

One of the executives of IPOB, Chika Edoziem, had on Friday said the separatist group would lock down the entire South-East region on October 1.

He said, “The 1st of October declared total shutdown in Biafra land. There shall be no movement in Biafra land on the 1st of October being Nigerian Independence day. Again from tonight, all Nigerian flags mounted anywhere in Biafra land must be brought down; banks exempted.

“IPOB leadership will communicate to banks directly and give them the reason why they must peacefully bring down the flag. Otherwise, we do it ourselves in our own way.”

The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since the third week of June following his arrest in Kenya and repatriation to Nigeria.

About six policemen were on Wednesday night allegedly killed by gunmen at a police checkpoint along Obeagu Uno-Amodu – Umueze Amechi road, in the Enugu South Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums attacked the checkpoint located at Obeagu Uno shortly after Inyaba Bridge around 7:30 pm.

Sources in the community told our correspondent that the hoodlums who came from Agbani axis of the road had first encounter with policemen at 4 Corner and in Amagunze in Nkanu East Council headquarters before coming to attack the checkpoint at Enugu South.

Although details of the attack were still sketchy, one of the sources told The PUNCH that the hoodlums killed about six policemen at the checkpoint, burnt their Hilux van and took away their AK-47 rifles.

One of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “It was around 7 pm we started hearing gunshots along the road. The shooting lasted about 30 minutes. But after the shooting, the hoodlums appeared to have overpowered the policemen as they succeeded in setting their vehicle on fire.

“I can’t say how many policemen were killed but the policemen at the checkpoint were six. What I can tell you is that up to six people were killed in the incident. Some of the hoodlums may have also been involved.”

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incident but could not provide casualty details.

Ndukwe in a text message sent to our correspondent simply said, “I need to verify that and revert, please.”

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKJUL 20, 2021

The United Kingdom Parliament has stated that the Nigerian government has to explain the roles it played and the manner of the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya.

The UK Minister of State for the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad, demanded that the Nigerian government should explain to the British government how it repatriated the IPOB leader.

This followed a debate by the UK Parliament on July 7, during which British lawmakers discussed the UK government’s assessment of Kenya’s role in Kanu’s arrest.

Lord Alton of Liverpool raised the issue at the House of Lords, seeking to address the controversies surrounding the transfer of Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria against his will.

He also sought to know if there was any assistance provided to the embattled IPOB leader by the High Commission in Abuja.

A parliamentary schedule stated, “Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the alleged role of the government of Kenya in the detention and alleged mistreatment of Nigerian activist Nnamdi Kanu, (2) the circumstances surrounding the transfer of Kanu to Nigeria against his will, and (3) of any assistance being provided to him by the High Commission in Abuja. HL1665.”

In response to the parliament’s debate, Ahmad said, “We are seeking clarification from the Nigerian Government about the circumstances of the arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu.”

Ahmad also confirmed claims by the British High Commission in Abuja that the UK government was providing consular assistance for the IPOB leader.

“The UK has requested consular access to Kanu from the Nigerian government, and we stand ready to provide consular assistance,” he maintained.

While the Buhari regime has refused to disclose how it repatriated the IPOB leader from Kenya, the UK government had clarified that Kanu travelling with a British passport was not arrested within its shores.

IPOB had also accused Kenya’s special police force of arresting, detaining, and torturing Kanu before the authorities handed him over to the Nigerian government.

But Kenya, through its high commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, refuted the claim, stating that the East African Country was not involved in the whole process.

But findings by The Guardian, a UK newspaper, indicated that he was arrested in Kenya, as Kanu’s UK passport remains in Kenya.

He was said to have entered Kenya this year with his British passport on a visa expiring in June, the newspaper reported.

Also, Kingsley Kanu, a brother to the British-Nigerian citizen, insisted that the Kenyan government was involved in the arrest.