Newsbreak reports that leaders of pro-Biafra groups have called for supporters to stay at home on May 30 to remember those who died during the 1967-1970 Nigerian-Biafran War.
This May 30 will mark 55 years since the 1967 declaration of the Republic of Biafra, by the late Odumegwu Ojukwu.
The declaration of the establishment of the Biafra nation, carved out of southeastern Nigeria, came after failed attempts by the Nigerian government to address the grievances expressed by southeastern Nigerians. In 1966, thousands of Igbo civilians were killed, mainly in northern Nigeria.
The 1966 killings began after a group of young army officers – some of whom were Igbo Christians -overthrew Nigeria’s democratic government and assassinated several people, including the prime minister and other Muslim northern leaders.
Over 50 years on, Nigeria’s Biafra secessionist movement is alive.
Princewill Chimezie Richards (middle)
Below is the message by Princewill Chimezie Richards, leader of the Biafra Nations League (BNL):
Fellow Biafrans,
Today the 30th of May in history, Late Military Head of Defunct Eastern Nigeria , Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared an independent State of Biafra following the failure of the Nigerian State to stop the killing of Easterners in the north, and the failure to implement the Aburi Accord which would have favoured regional system.
The war was forced on us, our father’s fought so that we may live, the Nigerian State used blockade and hunger tactics to win the war as our economy was targeted by their troops.
We appreciate His Excellency, Late Philip Effiong the then Chief of Staff of Biafran Army and former Vice President for his role in ending the sufferings of our people on an assumption of office as the Commander in Chief, he swallowed his pride being a major general in Nigerian Army and a General in Biafran Army, took the risk to announce a ceasefire in the presence of the enemies, his junior officers in Nigeria Army.
Well, what else can I say, than to appreciate all gallant commanders who fought till the end.
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