*Accuses Army of whisking them to unknown destination

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

Nnewi — The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has declared 17 of its members  missing, after attack on their members who were having a meeting on Sunday in Okwe Primary School, Asaba, asking the army authorities to release them without delay.

It also  alleged that the military has been harassing and arresting their members and other Biafra agitators, who wear Biafra uniform and other Biafra materials, in Asaba and other states in the South-East since Sunday’s attack.

IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, said the harassment of their members is becoming unbearable, alleging that their members are missing on daily basis without trace.

Demonstrators wave flags and hold a sign reading “Freedom for Biafra” during a protest calling for the release of pro-Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu, on September 23, 2016, in the Abidjan suburb of Treichville.
Near one hundred Biafran Nigerians protested on September 23 in Abidjan, calling for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, according to an AFP photographer.

It noted that the 17 people were taken away after the attack at the meeting venue at Okwe in Asaba, Delta State.

“We cannot stop the agitation at this stage where freedom  is at sight. So, no amount of intimidation, harassment and arrest of our members will deter us.

“The IPOB intelligence unit uncovered heinous plans against our members whom they believe are bent on restoration of Biafra nation. The annoying thing about the arrest and shooting of our members is that the Hausa-Fulani terror group is still parading in Nigeria, killing and maiming people at random without any arrest but soldiers and security agencies are arresting Biafrans for doing nothing wrong.

“It is quite sad that the Nigerian government and her security agencies will be pursuing the non-violent group which uses no arms to pursue the restoration of Biafra, while Fulani herdsmen are killing people with impunity, using guns and other dangerous weapons and no security  agency has arrested anyone of them.

“We, therefore, call on the international community, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and all human rights organizations, countries and all well-meaning world leaders to prevail on Nigerian government to stop the barbaric attitude of killing our non-violent members by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, and release our members they arrested in Asaba or charge them to court if they committed any offence.”