Heavy Tension As Soldiers Reportedly Invade Abia Community, Tear Down Biafra Flags

There are reports that Acha community, located in Isiukwuato local government of Abia state, was recently invaded and ransacked by the Nigeria Army.

The team of soldiers allegedly invaded the quite community in the early hours of Friday when villagers were on their way to their workplaces, farms and schools.

TBP reports that the soldiers did not state their mission to anyone but began a random arrest of every young male they sighted. Those arrested were taken round the community and forced to climb every electric poles or structure on which Biafra flags were hung. The arrested young men were tortured and then released by the soldiers who threatened to come back if any Biafra flag is seen in any part of the community.

One of the victims of the mass arrest who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed the incident, he decried the manner the Nigeria soldiers dealt with locals because of the Biafra flags found in the community.

When further asked about his opinion on the current agitation for an independent Biafra nation, the victim said, “I have never taken it serious until today because I am not aware of those responsible for hanging the Biafra flag on most of the electric poles in the community.

Some people have come to preach about Biafra to me but I usually don’t take them serious but because of what happened to me today I will look for them and join the struggle” he continued.

Reacting to the development, the coordinator of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Isiukwuato Zone, Promise Chigemezu, described the incident as “laughable”.

Chigemezu said he is surprised that the soldiers are coming now even when the Biafra flags have been flying in every part of the community for over two years.

“That community was the first place to be inaugurated in Isiukwuato local government and the Biafra flag have been flying since the day of the inauguration and was recently replaced with brand new ones so as to prepare for the commemoration of the May 30th Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day.

The invasion of the soldiers into the community is only a revelation that the coming of Biafra is near, if the Biafra flag is their problem then the Nigeria Army should get ready because for every flag that was removed from each pole, we will replace it with two brand new ones.”

The unperturbed Isiukwuato coordinator of the pro-Biafra group maintained that IPOB will never prevaricate or give in to intimidation by the Nigeria government.