THE ECHO OF A SECOND CIVIL WAR IN NIGERIA
By Okonkwo Isaac Somto
For Family Writers
"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."- John F. Kennedy
In 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Six years later, the Hausa-Fulani's in northern Nigeria began the massacre of Igbo-Biafrans in the northern region, prompting tens of thousands of Igbo-Biafrans to flee to the east where their people were the dominant ethnic group. Since the Nigeria government couldn't protect the lives of Igbos in the country, Igbos had to fend for themselves. So on May 30, 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and other non-Igbo representatives of the area established the Republic of Biafra. After diplomatic efforts by Nigeria failed to reunite the country, war between Nigeria and Biafra broke out in July 1967. The war ended with Nigeria committing a genocidal act on Biafrans, massacring over 3.5million Biafrans.
Even after the Nigeria-Biafra civil war Biafrans are still being killed almost on daily basis in Nigeria. Yet again the government of Nigera has failed to protect the lives and properties of Igbo-Biafran from Hausa-fulani's and their herdsmen. In fact the Nigeria government is now the perpetrators. They are now the ones who are responsible for the killing of Igbo-Biafrans in Nigeria. President Buhari, is virtually repeating the same thing that Gowon did but in a more brutal, physical and confronting manner. Since Buhari came into power as a so-called democratic leader, he ordered the illegal and unlawful arrest of Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra and director of radio Biafra, on the 14th of October. Many Biafrans took to the streets of Nigeria to protest against such injustice but in response to their protest, Buhari ordered his armed forces to shot at sight. Such orders have resulted to the death of over three thousand five hundred (3,500) indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) in less than a 10 Months Buhari came into power.
Now the question is this: why is Buhari provoking a second Nigeria-Biafra civil war? Biafrans want self-determination and are rightfully, peacefully protesting unarmed for a sovereign state. Why the killing of innocent unarmed Biafrans? Why is the Nigeria-Armed force using violence on Biafrans? Buhari who is intentionally setting-up a scenario for a second Nigeria-Biafra civil war should be closely cautioned, because his dictatorship and tyranny is really getting out of control. If world leaders, United Nations, Britain, America, European Union, African Union and Human Rights law continue to remain silent while this tyrant and dictator continue to oppress and kill unarmed Biafrans, they should also remain in mute mode when their silent results to a second Nigeria-Biafra war.
Biafrans have tried to be diplomatic, peaceful, non-violent and not to pick up arms but president Buhari keeps pushing Biafrans to the extreme end. I want the whole world to bear witness to such continuity of injustice and brutality. "Remember all war represents a failure of diplomacy".
By Okonkwo Isaac Somto
For Family Writers
"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."- John F. Kennedy
In 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Six years later, the Hausa-Fulani's in northern Nigeria began the massacre of Igbo-Biafrans in the northern region, prompting tens of thousands of Igbo-Biafrans to flee to the east where their people were the dominant ethnic group. Since the Nigeria government couldn't protect the lives of Igbos in the country, Igbos had to fend for themselves. So on May 30, 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and other non-Igbo representatives of the area established the Republic of Biafra. After diplomatic efforts by Nigeria failed to reunite the country, war between Nigeria and Biafra broke out in July 1967. The war ended with Nigeria committing a genocidal act on Biafrans, massacring over 3.5million Biafrans. Even after the Nigeria-Biafra civil war Biafrans are still being killed almost on daily basis in Nigeria. Yet again the government of Nigera has failed to protect the lives and properties of Igbo-Biafran from Hausa-fulani's and their herdsmen. In fact the Nigeria government is now the perpetrators. They are now the ones who are responsible for the killing of Igbo-Biafrans in Nigeria. President Buhari, is virtually repeating the same thing that Gowon did but in a more brutal, physical and confronting manner. Since Buhari came into power as a so-called democratic leader, he ordered the illegal and unlawful arrest of Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra and director of radio Biafra, on the 14th of October. Many Biafrans took to the streets of Nigeria to protest against such injustice but in response to their protest, Buhari ordered his armed forces to shot at sight. Such orders have resulted to the death of over three thousand five hundred (3,500) indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) in less than a 10 Months Buhari came into power.
Now the question is this: why is Buhari provoking a second Nigeria-Biafra civil war? Biafrans want self-determination and are rightfully, peacefully protesting unarmed for a sovereign state. Why the killing of innocent unarmed Biafrans? Why is the Nigeria-Armed force using violence on Biafrans? Buhari who is intentionally setting-up a scenario for a second Nigeria-Biafra civil war should be closely cautioned, because his dictatorship and tyranny is really getting out of control. If world leaders, United Nations, Britain, America, European Union, African Union and Human Rights law continue to remain silent while this tyrant and dictator continue to oppress and kill unarmed Biafrans, they should also remain in mute mode when their silent results to a second Nigeria-Biafra war.
Biafrans have tried to be diplomatic, peaceful, non-violent and not to pick up arms but president Buhari keeps pushing Biafrans to the extreme end. I want the whole world to bear witness to such continuity of injustice and brutality. "Remember all war represents a failure of diplomacy".
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