Members of the Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, have declared their intention to commit “mass suicide” if the whereabouts of their leader, Benjamin Onwuka is not made known to them within seven days.
The group’s leader alongside some other members were arrested on August 20, by a combination of policemen and officers from the Department of State Services, DSS, as they approached the gate to the Government House, Enugu, in a bid to occupy it and from there declare the ‘independence’ of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
A statement released by the National Coordinator of the Biafra Zionists Federation, Gilbert Ogbu on Sunday noted that the group had waited for their leader and members to either be released or charge to court since their arrest, but nothing has happened.
He therefore threatened that members of the group will commit mass suicide within seven days if Onwuka was not released or taken to court.
“We want to further inform Nigerians and the international community over the unlawful detention of our leader, Benjamin Onwuka, by the DSS.
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“It is now over two months and they have refused to charge him to court, contrary to the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution, which says nobody should be detained beyond 24 hours.
“More worrisome is the silence of the security agencies, the South-East governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, we are beginning to think that there is a collaboration among them.
“We are issuing a seven-day ultimatum, after which we have no option but to commit suicide.
“We shall occupy all the roads in the South-East and either get crushed by vehicles or have ourselves killed by security forces.”
“We are drawing the attention of the international community, especially the United Nations, the Amnesty International, the United States and Israel to the oppressive tendencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“We have our right to self-determination as provided for in all international treaties and we are not ready to sacrifice it.”
