Nigerian Army commander in Enugu gives Biafran separatist campaigners final warning

NIGERIAN Army commanders in the southeast have given Biafran separatists campaigning for the carving up of Nigeria a final warning to desist from disrupting the peace or face the full wrath of the law.

 

Over the last fortnight, Biafran campaigners have been holding rallies and demonstrations across the country calling for the release of Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu. Operating a pirate radio station out of the UK, Mr Kanu was apprehended early this month after he flew into Lagos.

 

Demonstrations calling for his release have been characterised with demands for the balkanisation of Nigeria and the rebirth of the defunct Biafran republic that existed between 1967 and 1970. They have disrupted commercial activities in several cities, especially in non-Biafran states like Delta and Rivers.

 

Exasperated with the actions of the separatists the Nigerian Army has warned that they are now crossing the red line and that its officers and men are battle-ready. Brigadier Ibrahim Attahiru, the general officer commanding the 82st Division of the Nigerian Army based in Enugu, has warned that military would not fold its hands while such persons destroyed lives and property in the country.

 

Brigadier Attahiru said: “The warning to the agitators is to tell them that enough is enough. The Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more specifically to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson.

 

“Once deployed, the Nigerian Army shall apply the rules of engagement to the letter in order for peace to prevail. It is inexcusable for troops to stand aside and watch the security situation deteriorate, leading to loss of lives or damage to property."

 

He noted that the agitators had recorded cases of lawlessness in Aba, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Abakaliki and Enugu. According to Brigadier Attahiru, the army took its time to adopt the present stand, saying that it was the primary duty of the police to maintain certain levels of security in the country.