War on Terror and Injustice Towards Igbos
By Chidozie Egbuna
Nigeria's war on terror is fraught with many twists and turns of gross injustice and abuse of power by those who are in position to fight this war. The Nigerian security authorities often treat the Boko Haram terrorists with tender gloves but often use a heavy handed approach when dealing with groups that pose less treat and are exercising their constitutional rights. The unarmed are often confronted with great force while the armed is either ignored or encouraged? Who are Nigeria's real enemies here?
A good example of this abuse of power is in the recent arrest of the members of the Biafra Zionist Federation in Enugu. Many southerners noticed how these men who were unarmed, were arrested and striped naked and their pictures taken and displayed in the front of our national dailies. The hidden message in this unnecessary abuse of power is to inform the public that the Igbos who attempts to free themselves from Nigeria would be given the most humiliating treatment while the Hausas would be ignored or returned home as has happened on many occasions. Those who are responsible for fighting the war on terror do not approach the Boko Haram in a similar manner. These authorities prove by their actions that they are sympathetic to the cause of the
By Chidozie Egbuna
Nigeria's war on terror is fraught with many twists and turns of gross injustice and abuse of power by those who are in position to fight this war. The Nigerian security authorities often treat the Boko Haram terrorists with tender gloves but often use a heavy handed approach when dealing with groups that pose less treat and are exercising their constitutional rights. The unarmed are often confronted with great force while the armed is either ignored or encouraged? Who are Nigeria's real enemies here?
A good example of this abuse of power is in the recent arrest of the members of the Biafra Zionist Federation in Enugu. Many southerners noticed how these men who were unarmed, were arrested and striped naked and their pictures taken and displayed in the front of our national dailies. The hidden message in this unnecessary abuse of power is to inform the public that the Igbos who attempts to free themselves from Nigeria would be given the most humiliating treatment while the Hausas would be ignored or returned home as has happened on many occasions. Those who are responsible for fighting the war on terror do not approach the Boko Haram in a similar manner. These authorities prove by their actions that they are sympathetic to the cause of the Boko Haram more than MASSOB or BZF.
The Biafra Zionist Federation is not a terrorist organization. Their only goal is the reinstatement of the state of Biafra because they want to end the unholy matrimony that the Igbos have with Nigeria a nation that has failed in great measure to provide security for them. The BZF is not an armed organization and does not pose the level of treat that the Boko Haram presents to the country. The police use of heavy handedness on an organization that is exercising their constitutional rights is corrupt and a gross miscarriage of justice. The transfer of these men to Abuja away from their families who would visit and provide legal defense is even more disturbing. The Nigeria authorities should use this same zeal towards Boko Haram not freedom lovers of their homeland like BZF.
The 486 suspected terrorist individuals that were arrested on Sunday with eight girls were not treated in the same manner that the members of the BZF were displayed in Enugu. The suspects were all wearing clothes and comfortably sitting on the ground without even handcuffs on their hands. The suspicious movement of 486 individuals who claimed that they were travelling to the east to look for job around 2am is indeed very suspect. According to the reports from many daily newspapers, these individuals were travelling in 35 Hummer buses when their convoy was intercepted. To deny that this men are going there to cause havoc is delusional.
We know how Nigeria handles terror suspects who are often of northern origin; they would all be released back into society without any adequate investigation. These individuals in America would be finger printed and given a detailed interrogation and if found liable would be incarcerated for a long period of time. Not in Nigeria, the Biafran Zionist Federation members are moved to Abuja where they would not have access to family support and adequate legal assistance while the Boko Haram members are sent back to the north where they have many sympathizers and enablers. When is Nigeria going to give justice to the Igbos who are often marginalized and oppressed by a country that would neither protect them nor allow them to leave and form their own nation? Why does Nigeria have this obsession of keeping the Igbos part of this unholy matrimony? The notion that the Igbos must remain in Nigeria is comparable to forcing one to stay in an unhappy marriage just because there is a history of such relationship.
The Igbos want to separate from Nigeria because they are not safe in a country that continues to allow for their killing. The Igbos want to achieve their fullest potential as individuals as given to them by God. That aspiration is hindered by their very existence in a country that is not based on christian principles of love and justice but rather on corrupt and evil ways of life. The Igbos do not share a common religion, culture, with the Hausas. The Hausas continue to pose a treat to the rest of Nigeria because of their Muslim ideologies which does not make for a peaceful nation. In many of the countries where there is an Islamic leadership the problem remain the same, Iraq, Iran, Afganisthan, Pakistan, all these counties tend to experience an unusual level of violence and unrest. The concept of Nigeria which was originally a trade arrangement for the colonist is not a cohesive arrangement that can function in this modern era. The major tribes, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbos have more loyalty to their various tribes than with the geographical project called Nigeria. Why keep a bad marriage that is in all essence destructive to the individuals involved in it.
The federal government should concentrate her effort in fighting the Boko Haram not peaceful groups like BZF, or Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) which are nonviolent groups that are only interested in protecting the southeast people from the northern aggressors. The Biafran Zionist Movement is a freedom fighting organization that is not planting bombs to kill innocent civilians. The MASSOB has never carried out attacks on innocent civilians by cowardly planting bombs in public places. The Boko Haram has caused great harm to private citizens in Nigeria without provocation. The Harams have kidnapped more than two hundred innocent girls from Chibok and are subjecting them to the most inhuman torture and servitude. The Nigeria government refuses to focus on their real enemy but would rather show strength in tormenting nonviolent freedom fighters from the southeast.
This government should without delay release the members of the BZF who are being held in Abuja. Particularly, the government should release Barrister Benjamin Onwuka and his colleagues in the interest of unity, justice, and peace. These men pose no danger to the people in their community or the nation at large. Holding on to these consists the further marginalization of the Igbos and reminding them that they are not members of this country called Nigeria.
The Biafra Zionist Federation is not a terrorist organization. Their only goal is the reinstatement of the state of Biafra because they want to end the unholy matrimony that the Igbos have with Nigeria a nation that has failed in great measure to provide security for them. The BZF is not an armed organization and does not pose the level of treat that the Boko Haram presents to the country. The police use of heavy handedness on an organization that is exercising their constitutional rights is corrupt and a gross miscarriage of justice. The transfer of these men to Abuja away from their families who would visit and provide legal defense is even more disturbing. The Nigeria authorities should use this same zeal towards Boko Haram not freedom lovers of their homeland like BZF.
The 486 suspected terrorist individuals that were arrested on Sunday with eight girls were not treated in the same manner that the members of the BZF were displayed in Enugu. The suspects were all wearing clothes and comfortably sitting on the ground without even handcuffs on their hands. The suspicious movement of 486 individuals who claimed that they were travelling to the east to look for job around 2am is indeed very suspect. According to the reports from many daily newspapers, these individuals were travelling in 35 Hummer buses when their convoy was intercepted. To deny that this men are going there to cause havoc is delusional.
We know how Nigeria handles terror suspects who are often of northern origin; they would all be released back into society without any adequate investigation. These individuals in America would be finger printed and given a detailed interrogation and if found liable would be incarcerated for a long period of time. Not in Nigeria, the Biafran Zionist Federation members are moved to Abuja where they would not have access to family support and adequate legal assistance while the Boko Haram members are sent back to the north where they have many sympathizers and enablers. When is Nigeria going to give justice to the Igbos who are often marginalized and oppressed by a country that would neither protect them nor allow them to leave and form their own nation? Why does Nigeria have this obsession of keeping the Igbos part of this unholy matrimony? The notion that the Igbos must remain in Nigeria is comparable to forcing one to stay in an unhappy marriage just because there is a history of such relationship.
The Igbos want to separate from Nigeria because they are not safe in a country that continues to allow for their killing. The Igbos want to achieve their fullest potential as individuals as given to them by God. That aspiration is hindered by their very existence in a country that is not based on christian principles of love and justice but rather on corrupt and evil ways of life. The Igbos do not share a common religion, culture, with the Hausas. The Hausas continue to pose a treat to the rest of Nigeria because of their Muslim ideologies which does not make for a peaceful nation. In many of the countries where there is an Islamic leadership the problem remain the same, Iraq, Iran, Afganisthan, Pakistan, all these counties tend to experience an unusual level of violence and unrest. The concept of Nigeria which was originally a trade arrangement for the colonist is not a cohesive arrangement that can function in this modern era. The major tribes, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbos have more loyalty to their various tribes than with the geographical project called Nigeria. Why keep a bad marriage that is in all essence destructive to the individuals involved in it.
The federal government should concentrate her effort in fighting the Boko Haram not peaceful groups like BZF, or Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) which are nonviolent groups that are only interested in protecting the southeast people from the northern aggressors. The Biafran Zionist Movement is a freedom fighting organization that is not planting bombs to kill innocent civilians. The MASSOB has never carried out attacks on innocent civilians by cowardly planting bombs in public places. The Boko Haram has caused great harm to private citizens in Nigeria without provocation. The Harams have kidnapped more than two hundred innocent girls from Chibok and are subjecting them to the most inhuman torture and servitude. The Nigeria government refuses to focus on their real enemy but would rather show strength in tormenting nonviolent freedom fighters from the southeast.
This government should without delay release the members of the BZF who are being held in Abuja. Particularly, the government should release Barrister Benjamin Onwuka and his colleagues in the interest of unity, justice, and peace. These men pose no danger to the people in their community or the nation at large. Holding on to these consists the further marginalization of the Igbos and reminding them that they are not members of this country called Nigeria.