A group of angry Biafra secessionists have torn their Nigerian passports to press home their demand for the breakaway of the South-East from the Nigerian state.
As of Saturday, no fewer than three videos were seen on the online video sharing platform, YouTube, in which some Igbo denounced their citizenship of the country and declared their allegiance to Biafra.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has, however, warned that such act is criminal and attracts a jail term.
In one of the videos, the man introduced himself as Emenike Michael Nwofor.
He said, “My names are (sic) Emenike Michael Nwaofor. I’m from Nnewi in Biafra land; when there was Biafra, there wasn’t anything called Anambra State. I would refuse to add that name called Anambra State to it. I am from Nnewi, the former Enugu State.
“I am living here in Bordeaux (France); I am an asylum seeker in Bordeaux. I have been around Bordeaux for a year plus and we have been able to gather the Biafran family here in France; we have been able to register with the government of France as indigenous people of Biafra.”
After a long speech, he subsequently brought out his Nigerian passport and tore the pages.
In another video, a young man, who did not mention his name, also tore his Nigerian passport angrily.
In the third video, the man, who spoke in Igbo and French, tore his passport while using derogatory words on the government of Nigeria.
The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Deputy Comptroller Ekpedeme King, while reacting to the development in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, said the service was not aware of the passport tearing.
King said, “There is a new Act called the Immigration Act 2015 which stipulates the punishment for any alteration or destruction of Nigerian passport; it is a jail term with conditions.
“Those who mentioned their names, if we find out that they tore their passports, will be taken to court. A process has to be followed.”
Checks by our source showed that the Immigration Act 2015, among other conditions, states, “Altering existing travel documents renders the holder on conviction of a two million naira fine and/or imprisonment for a term of three years.”
The Department of State Services had reportedly arrested and detained the founder of the guerrilla broadcasting channel, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on his arrival from London recently.
The Nigerian Police had also arrested and arraigned many members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and other secessionist groups recently.
Thousands of members and supporters of MASSOB had last Tuesday embarked on a protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, demanding to break away from Nigeria.
In a swift reaction, governors in the South-East and other leaders in the zone had dissociated themselves from the protests, saying they were not in support of the group.
A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), while speaking to Channels TV on Friday during his visit to Nasarawa State, had said the resurgence of a group claiming to be Pro-Biafra would not in any way pose a threat to the sovereignty of the country. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Those people tore up their expired old passports - they still have current valid Nigerian passports. By the way, who is stopping Biafra? Let them start by holding a referendum among their own people (real Igbo states - not their minority neighbours). If the referendum shows that majority of the Igbos would want to leave Nigeria, it is only then they can start the agitation. For now, all we have is a group of agitators who don't even know if their views represent the position of the people they claim to represent!
ReplyDeleteWho are those minority neighbors ? Have they told you they want to be part of Nigeria ? Referendum will soon tell you that they are more interested in Biafra than the Igbo speaking tribe...Or do you think your divide and rule strategy is still working in South South ? It has expired and i hope you noticed it during the just concluded election.
DeleteThe state will rig the referendum.
DeleteLmao now that's funny
DeleteIt is quite unfortunate that you all making a case for biafra are hiding under anonymity. If truly you believe in your cause, you can at least tell us your name. As far as I am concerned, biafra's agitation is dead on arrival. All these silly overfed children clamouring for war know next to nothing about hardship. My question to them is can igbo who are land locked survive on their own, the greed amongst them cannot even allow them form a cohesive party that can fight for their rights. Their so called agitation is dead on arrival period.
DeleteThe end will justify the means David so don't bother yourself for us whether we are land locked or not, whether we are greedy or not, whether we fight ourselves or not, we have makeup our mind to go. many countries that are land locked are still making it great today. If you truly love Nigeria ask yourself this question why there is too much hatred in the land and why Nigeria is going back when other countries we were ahead of are progressing and going forward? Until Nigerians like you stop lies, deceit and propaganda and do the needful Nigeria will remain where we are, that is the simple truth that we all have to face once and for all.
DeleteThe end will justify the means David so don't bother yourself for us whether we are land locked or not, whether we are greedy or not, whether we fight ourselves or not, we have makeup our mind to go. many countries that are land locked are still making it great today. If you truly love Nigeria ask yourself this question why there is too much hatred in the land and why Nigeria is going back when other countries we were ahead of are progressing and going forward? Until Nigerians like you stop lies, deceit and propaganda and do the needful Nigeria will remain where we are, that is the simple truth that we all have to face once and for all.
DeleteThe end will justify the means David so don't bother yourself for us whether we are land locked or not, whether we are greedy or not, whether we fight ourselves or not, we have makeup our mind to go. many countries that are land locked are still making it great today. If you truly love Nigeria ask yourself this question why there is too much hatred in the land and why Nigeria is going back when other countries we were ahead of are progressing and going forward? Until Nigerians like you stop lies, deceit and propaganda and do the needful Nigeria will remain where we are, that is the simple truth that we all have to face once and for all.
DeleteSincerely, these people are more hilarious than Basket mouth; they are completely devoid of initiative. Ah ah ah!
ReplyDeleteOld Chinese trick. So now they think they can't be deported since they dont have a "nationality".
ReplyDeleteThey will be surprised Nigerian embassy in France would arrange travell document for their deportation.
Lazy Asylum Seeker
Economic migrants of Nigeria origin have become Asylum seekers in France using Biafra as a cover.
ReplyDeleteIdiots tearing passport yet looking for asylum. I'm living abroad. Their act ruins those chances.
ReplyDeleteThis is getting too loud and the givegoverngovernment should put a stop to this agitations by putting it to vote. Why are they even avoiding a referendum. For me i don't want to be part of a country where someone refers to me as a parasite so let them put a stop to this nonsense and put it to vote.
ReplyDeleteTheir ex- warlord , Chief Odumegwu ojukwu had earlier described such acts as demonstrated by the so called secessionists as an "infantile drama". And that is exactly what it is.
ReplyDeleteSince they are not Nigerians they should be deported from Nigeria. You are in France fighting a cause in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThese young men routing for WAR, had better be warned. Singing, dancing,demonstrating & senseless tearing of expired passports are by far a different ball game from the real deal (WAR). They better go & ask their elders. The only reason the Igbo Nation is not up& doing is lack of unity & instead of tackling that, it's Youths are embarking on a self-delusion propaganda called BIAFRA
ReplyDeleteThe Igbo Nation should put their house in order. Only a united front and do more on integrating rather than this pipe-dream of Biafra
ReplyDeleteThese agitators are not serious at all if they are let them vote and recall their brothers serving in the senate or house of rep cos those positions belong to nigeria. Also let them tell their children in schools to stay away from waec neco and jamb since these are Nigerian examinations. Let them tell their cohorts to stop spending naira and should instruct their banks to freeze any naira acount they might have. And finally let them embark on mass movement back to the igbo land from other part of nigeria they might be residing and close all their businesses that are in other part of the country. If they can do these in the next 3 months then they are really serious but if not they are jesters and a set of crude and unadulterated fools
ReplyDeleteThese agitators are not serious at all if they are let them vote and recall their brothers serving in the senate or house of rep cos those positions belong to nigeria. Also let them tell their children in schools to stay away from waec neco and jamb since these are Nigerian examinations. Let them tell their cohorts to stop spending naira and should instruct their banks to freeze any naira acount they might have. And finally let them embark on mass movement back to the igbo land from other part of nigeria they might be residing and close all their businesses that are in other part of the country. If they can do these in the next 3 months then they are really serious but if not they are jesters and a set of crude and unadulterated fools
ReplyDeleteAnytime you hear a few Igbos did something you get excited and paranoid and start abusing and threats. Why? How many Igbo tore thier passports? If you all hate igbos so much why don't you all stage a protest and tell them to leave nigeria? I recall the last time nigeria refused.
ReplyDeleteIt beats me hollow why the Yorubas and Hausas hate to the Igbos so much yet they are unwilling to let them go. So many ignorantly talk about Biafra been landlocked country and so what? How many prosperous countries of the key word are landlocked and yet your Nigeria that has several thousands of coastal land remains impoverished? Others say the Igbos are not united, yet you don't want them to leave with their disunity. Despite all the 927446254728466 the Igbos remain the most advanced ethnic group in Nigeria. Let the Yorubas keep it deceiving themselves. Cattle, herdsmen and will soon take over the west the way they did the middle belt.
ReplyDelete