Biafra: 8 IPOB members killed, 30 wounded, 26 arrested

...as group defies police order to protest in Delta, Abia, Enugu states
Judge fails to show up in court over Nnamdi Kanu’s case
Cleric denies appointment as Biafra INEC commissioner
By Vincent Ujumadu, Festus Ahon, Nwabueze Okonkwo, Ugochukwu Alaribe & Chimaobi Nwaiwu
Itwas a theatre of confusion, yesterday in Aba as eight members of the the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, were allegedly shot dead by the military during their peaceful protest over the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, according to the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful .
The Director of Radio Biafra, Mr Kanu was supposed to appear at the Federal High Court Abuja, yesterday, but the much awaited case was adjourned due to the absence of the judge.
The adjournment came as a shock to IPOB members, who gathered at the court premises and its environs early yesterday morning waiting to see their leader, but were sadly shocked when it was announced that the case had been postponed indefinitely.
No formal communication was made to the lawyers of the detained Biafran activist and no reason was given as to why the judge was absent from the court.
FILE:Scene of Onitsha protest
It would be recalled that the case was assigned to a new judge, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, after many weeks of searching for a judge. It is also not yet clear whether Justice John Tsoho abandoned this case as his colleague, Justice A. Mohammed did sometime in the past.
The case has been adjourned to January 21, amidst speculation that another judge might be appointed for the controversial trial.
The members and sympathizers of the leader of IPOB were gathered eagerly waiting to get a glance of the leader, but were shocked when it was announced that the court date had been adjourned.
The action of the judge appeared to confirm the speculation that no judge would want to get involved in this case as their judgment may not be respected by the Department of State Services,DSS, and the Federal Government.
Protests in Delta, Enugu, Abia
Irked by the development, the IPOB, yesterday, defied directive of the Police on the ban of public protest/procession and staged a peaceful protest in Asaba, the State capital, Enugu and Abia over the continued detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by operatives of the DSS.
The protesters in Delta, who marched from Abraka Motor Park through Nnebisi Road to Okpanam Road from about 12 noon to 3:30p.m., caused serious traffic grid along Nnebisi Road as commuters, who were taking their wards from school and other road users were stranded for several hours.
Speaking toVanguard, the Delta State Coordinator of IPOB, Jonah Chukwuma, called on the Federal Government to immediately release Kanu and grant freedom to the Biafra people.
His words: “We are protesting for the release of our director, our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, that the ‘zoo’ people are still holding. Let them release him now . Secondly, let them grant us our freedom because we cannot be slaves forever.
“We are tired of staying in this country called Nigeria; we want our own country, which is Biafra, that is what we are agitating for. We are peaceful people, we are non-violent. As you can see, our rally is a peaceful one. We are protesting so that the whole world will hear our voice."
On why they were protesting in Asaba, Chukwuma said: “We are protesting in Asaba because Asaba is part of the Biafra land. We have about 25 states that make up Biafra and as I speak to you now, the protest is going on in these states, including Abuja.”
The group also, yesterday, lashed out on the Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and his Rivers State counterpart, Chief Nyesom Wike for their alleged directive to the security agencies in the two states not to allow them carry out their protest.
Abia, Rivers govs are impositions
Addressing newsmen in Nnewi, IPOB Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful said the two state governors are simply seeking for the political relevance they cannot get from the All Progressives Congress, APC, led government of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that in spite of the police threats and some governors' directive to prevent them from holding their protests, they held combined protests in Abia, Delta and Enugu states.
He said he is not surprised about the comments of the two governors because they belong to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and are not popular candidates in their states.