Biafra: IPOB declares May 30 public holiday, bans church services

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared May 30, 2021 a public holiday to mark the anniversary of Biafra fallen heroes and heroines.

It said on Sunday that the occasion will be marked with total lock down of the entire Biafra and a sit-at-home across Biafraland, Lagos, Abuja as well as northern towns with reasonable Biafran population.

The declaration, contained in a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, also said that there will be no church services on that day.

The statement partly read: “A sit-at-home order is also to be observed in all the markets within and outside Biafra land where our people do their businesses.

“It shall also be observed by Diasporan Biafrans in the over 100 countries where the IPOB family is present.

“We equally request our fellow comrades in Yoruba, Middle Belt and other Christians living in the far North to solidarise with us in the event as we honour all those who have paid the supreme price in our struggle for total freedom.

“All Biafrans living overseas must hold rallies in their respective countries of abode in honour of our fallen heroes and heroines including the gallant Imo State Eastern Security Network, ESN, COMMANDER, Ikonso and his men murdered last week by the Nigeria security agents.”

IPOB urged Diasporan Biafrans to ensure they get the written approval of their host countries before embarking on the rallies, saying that the rallies will show the outside world its resolve and preparedness to leave Nigeria.

Continuing, the statement said: “30th of May every year is very dear to Biafrans because it was the date our Hero, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared our resistance to the genocidal attacks by Nigeria and Fulani Janjaweeds which culminated into the 30-months civil war from 1967 to 1970.

“We shall always remember all those who died in the course of the war and our march to freedom.

“Consequently, there will be no movement on the roads throughout Biafraland; no banking or financial services in our territory; no commercial activities of any kind. The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Associations of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Luxurious Bus Associations of Nigeria (LUBAN), Keke and Tricycle Associations of Nigeria, Artisans, Vulcanizers, Okada Associations, Markets, Parks, Airports, Seaports, and others in Biafra land are advised to shut down completely on that day.”

IPOB, however, said that this year’s anniversary would be without any procession or protest anywhere in Biafra land.

It said that everyone is expected to stay indoors without attending any church service adding that nobody is expected to flout the directive.