Re-Biafra Foundation Statement on the Killing of Christian Biafrans in Nigeria

The above titled press release from the so-called Biafra Foundation refers please.

The statement is a false and malicious misrepresentation of facts designed to tarnish the positive image of the Nigerian government and people in the international community.

In the first instance, there is currently no territorial entity known and recognized as Biafra in the Nigeria of today.

Nigeria a federation of thirty six states and a federal capital territory is a sovereign and indivisible country recognisd by the United Nations and the international community.

Biafra was an attempt in the late nineteen sixties (1967-70) by a section of the eastern part of the country to secede. The rebellion was crushed by Nigeria after a thirty month civil war.

Therefore, Biafra both as a concept and a political entity died with the surrender of the rebel forces in January, 1970.

One therefore wonders which group of people the so-called Foundation is referring to as Biafran Christians.

The unfortunate incident being referred to in the statement has nothing to do with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

It was essentially a local affair among the Ibos of Enugu State in the eastern part of the country. To be specific the incident arose out of disagreement between the state government and the local Catholic community. The state government had accused the local Catholic hierarchy of inciting the electorate against them in their religious preachings which they consider critical of government programmes and policies.

A panel of enquiry has been set up by the state government while the chairman and secretary of the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had visited the warring parties to reconcile them.

From the fore-going, it is clear that the Foundation deliberately refused to distinguish the actions of the Enugu State government controlled by the Ibos from that of the Federal government of Nigeria in order to justify their fabrications.

The Federal Government of Nigeria as a democratically elected government vehemently denies these malicious allegation of brutality against the Ibos or any group of Nigerians for that matter.

There is no territorial entity called Biafra neither is the government of Nigeria occupying such area. The city of Enugu where the incident occurred is the capital of Enugu State one of the thirty six (36) states in Nigeria whose government is democratically elected by the people of the State.

We therefore enjoin the international community to disregard these malicious propaganda of the Biafra Foundation. The true picture can be confirmed from reputable international organizations with representations in the country.

F.K. Martins
Information Attaché
Embassy of Nigeria
Washington, USA
April 19, 2002