Nigerian troops conducting Exercise Golden Dawn have killed a suspected Biafran National Guard gunman.
The deceased was among a group of gunmen who allegedly attacked troops’ location at Amaekpu in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State on Thursday, October 28, 2021
A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu on Thursday said the troops repelled an attack by the assailants who were described as heavily armed.
It said, “The assailants, who were heavily armed and conveyed in several vehicles opened fire on the troops’ location, but were met with stiff resistance by the troops.
“In the encounter, the troops neutralised one gunman, while others abandoned their vehicles and retreated in disarray with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered a pump-action gun, among others.
“While the criminals withdrew, having been overwhelmed, they were promptly intercepted at Eda by troops of Forward Operating Base Ohaozara in Ebonyi State. The troops recovered additional three vehicles and apprehended one of the gunmen.”
Meanwhile, videos obtained by SaharaReporters show some armed men who identified themselves as Biafran National Guards saying they were ready for war.
In one of the videos, the voice of a man filming could be heard saying, “The liberation of Biafra has just begun. Today is Day 2 of our glorious week. You can Biafran National Guards are already on the ground and they are on the move to go and rescue the prisoners of conscience – Mrs Onyekachi Orji and the rest of them.
“This is Biafran National Guards, as you can see them, they are all on alert. You can see they are ready for war, war for the liberation of Biafra has just begun.”
The camera showed armed men in about four SUVs fuelling their vehicles at a going station.
The man behind the camera then approached a man in one of the vehicles, identifying him as the Commander, Gen Innocent Orji.
“This is the commander, Gen Innocent Orji. Sir, can you tell us what is happening here?” he asked the commander.
Orji replied saying, “We want to tell them that Anambra election can never hold.”
“We are going to declare the sovereignty of Biafra Nation,” he later added.
The unidentified man behind the camera continued, “This is our military. Biafran National Guards are in various vehicles, ready to go and free the prisoners of conscience that have been imprisoned for almost 15 years. You can see them filling their vehicles.
“Saturday, 30th of October is going to be the redeclaration of Biafra sovereignty.”
A second video suggests the man with the camera was in a vehicle and gunshots could be heard.
The voice said, “Biafran National Guards have just met some soldiers; the war has just begun.”
It appears that the armed men in the videos were the ones who later confronted the Nigerian Army, leading to the death of one of them.
The Biafran National Guard had vowed to hoist the Biafran Military Flag of Authority by May 30, 2021.
According to the group, the activity will signify the total takeover of Biafran territories, which they said would start from Anambra State.
The group also said it had banned the Nigerian flag from being hoisted or displayed in any part of the South-East, which they referred to as Biafran territory.
Similarly, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had announced that there would be a sit-at-home protest for one week if their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu was not released by the Nigerian government by November 4.
If this is enforced, it will affect the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 6.