Kanu’s Release: Five Killed in Onitsha as Soldiers Shoot at Jubilating Supporters

The jubilation by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Onitsha, Anambra State, over the decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja to unconditionally release the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, turned soar yesterday, when soldiers attached to the 302 Artillery Regiment in the commercial town allegedly shot at them, killing five instantly and injuring 25 others.

The soldiers, erroneously thought the IPOB supporters had trooped out to protest against the detention of their leader, Kanu, not knowing that they were celebrating his release.

The incident happened at the Onitsha end of the River Niger Bridge and immediately caused panic among motorists and commuters who scampered for safety as tension pervaded the city.

The IPOB members had on hearing the court’s ruling ordering Kanu’s release, trooped out in their numbers and converged around the statue of the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumewu Ojukwu.

They were singing and jubilating preparatory to a procession but were stopped by policemen and soldiers who were around the area.
Trouble for the IPOB members, an eyewitness who identified himself as Jimmy Okechukwu, said started when the IPOB members were accosted by the soldiers and asked to stop their march towards the bridge, an order the group allegedly defied.
An argument, he said, ensued between the soldiers and the group which later degenerated into violence.

At this point, the soldiers, he said, started shooting sporadically to scare the swarming crowd of IPOB members, but unfortunately, they shot at five of them who died on the spot with about 25 others wounded.
During the shooting, people ran for their lives but some IPOB members who mustered the courage threw pebbles at the soldiers who retaliated by shooting at the defenseless people.

Reacting to the incident, Chairman of the Fundamental Rights League International (FRLI), Mr. Mike Umezulike, told stated that the procession by IPOB members was peaceful and wondered why the soldiers shot at harmless people.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, Mr. Rabiu Garba, said he was not in town, though he was told of the procession.

Earlier yesterday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court ordered the unconditional release of Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Delivering the ruling in the bail application filed and argued by his lawyer, Mr. Vincent Obeta, Justice Ademola also set aside an order previously granted the DSS to detain Kanu for 90 days to enable the security agency complete its investigations.
According to him, the continued detention of Kanu after three months without trial violated Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Ademola also held there was no law that permits the DSS or any other security agency for that matter to detain any Nigerian beyond the period stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when in actual fact there was no intention to put the person on trial.

“From the available facts before the court, it is clear that the DSS neither has enough materials to prosecute the applicant in a law court nor have they made up their minds on prosecution.

“Detaining the applicant for more than three months without trial runs contrary to Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, and such act must not be allowed in the interest of the rule of law.

The constitution remains the supreme law. It does not permit detention of a Nigerian citizen for a period spanning over two months without charging the citizen before the law court. This court has the duty to protect the constitution and one of the duties is to admit a citizen of this country on bail when his right to freedom is being violated,” Justice Ademola said.

The judge, however, frowned on Kanu’s claim that being charged under the Terrorism Prevention Act was illegal, adding that the Act was a potent legislation fashioned out to check acts of terrorism.

“It is worthy of mention that countries like America, Britain, France and others have similar legislation to combat acts of terrorism. It is therefore not a correct position to say that the act is an illegal one,” he said.

Before his release, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja on Wednesday had struck out the criminal charge brought against Kanu by the DSS.
Kanu was detained by the DSS for allegedly forming an “unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into existence the Republic of Biafra”.

He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established Radio Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will suffer should they attempt to hinder the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.

His release yesterday was received with joy in the South-east, as pro-Biafra groups and his family welcomed the court’s decision to quash the various charges brought against the activist by the federal government.

In Enugu, business activities were temporarily halted as hundreds of pro-Biafra agitators under the aegis of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and IPOB took to the major streets of the city to celebrate Kanu’s release from custody.

The agitators, who adorned uniforms and insignia, caused major gridlocks along major roads including Ogui, New Haven, Holy Ghost/Ogbete, New Layout and some parts of Independence Layout in the Enugu State capital, chanting solidarity songs even as they insisted that the struggle for Biafra remained on course.

The solidarity march, though peaceful, forced many residents to remain indoors in the event of violence.
Meanwhile, the acting Leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, described his discharge and the dismissal of the charges preferred against him by the DSS as a major triumph against injustice, suppression, oppression and subjection against the oppressed IPOB.
In a statement, Madu said their “consistency and uncompromised spirit had paid off”, adding that “MASSOB shall continue with IPOB for genuine and committed Biafran non-violent struggle”.

“We salute our comrades in IPOB both at home and the Diaspora for their unrelenting, courageous efforts and spirit of oneness in pursuing the visions and mission of IPOB.

“Kanu has become the hero of the genuine Biafra agitation; those who earlier opposed Kanu will cover their faces in shame.
“MASSOB hails the committed, eloquent and dedicated Igbo leaders who fearlessly assisted in the release of our brother, Kanu.
“MASSOB knows them, because we met and appealed to them, they responded. He shall be received in Biafra land as the greatest hero,” he said.

In its reaction to the release of Kanu, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), which has been calling for Kanu’s release, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to the pleas of Ndigbo and progressive Nigerians.

In a statement, the OYC said that the release of Kanu would douse the tension generated by the detention of the IPOB leader, adding that by dousing the tension in the South-east the entire nation had been spared contending with another security problem.

The statement signed by the National President of OYC, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and secretary, Mr. Nnabuike Okwu, noted that the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, would go a long way in restoring the confidence of Ndigbo in Buhari's government.

The group called on the Federal Government to also address all the other grievances of the pro-Biafra agitators, because aside from calling for Kanu’s release, the pro-Biafra groups had also been protesting against injustices being meted to Ndigbo in Nigeria.

On his part, the father of the activist and traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu Ibeku autonomous community in Abia Stae, Eze Israel Kanu, told journalists at his palace that he was grateful that freedom had finally come to his son after three months in detention.

“My family and the entire people of Afara Ukwu Umuahia in general are happy over the new development,” he said, adding that he would continue to praise God for seeing his son through his ordeal in the hands of the security agencies.

He also lauded all Nigerians of goodwill and conscience for speaking out and standing by his family while the agitation for his son's release lasted, adding that the judiciary once again proved that it is the last hope of the common man by applying wisdom in discharging and acquitting him.

While thanking the president for seeing reason in harkening to the demand for his son’s release, he equally asked him to further demonstrate his milk of human kindness by facilitating the sovereignty of Biafra to enable Ndigbo have their own independent nation.
Nonetheless, he urged all pro-Biafra groups including MASSOB and IPOB to remain calm and pursue the Biafran project without confrontation.