The Biafra fight for independence

A Nigerian court has granted another opportunity for Biafra separatist leader to defend himself against terrorism charges. Biafra was a secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria in May 1967 and existed until January 1970. It comprised the former Eastern Region of Nigeria, predominantly inhabited by the Igbo people. The declaration of independence was led by Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu. The Nigerian government opposed the secession, leading to the Nigerian Civil War (also called the Biafran War).During the war, which lasted about two and a half years, Biafra was subjected to a blockade by the Nigerian military, resulting in severe starvation, disease, and high civilian mortality, with estimates of civilian deaths ranging from around 500,000 to 3 million, mostly due to starvation. The war ended in January 1970 with Biafra's surrender and reintegration into Nigeria. The conflict gained international attention due to media coverage of the humanitarian crisis, inspiring global humanitarian aid efforts.Since the war, Igbo nationalism has remained significant, with some groups continuing to advocate for Biafran independence or autonomy within Nigeria. The leader of the Biafra separatist movement is Nnamdi Kanu. He founded the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in 2012, a group that advocates for the secession and restoration of the former Republic of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria. Kanu first gained prominence through Radio Biafra, a London-based station that broadcast messages calling for Biafran independence and criticizing the Nigerian government. He has been arrested and charged multiple times, including with treason and incitement to violence. Although the IPOB has been designated a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government, it remains the most prominent Biafra separatist group, with Kanu as its central figure. Following his re-arrest in 2021, Kanu appointed Simon Ekpa as his spokesperson while in custody, although Ekpa has become controversial within the movement. The leader of the Biafra separatist movement is Nnamdi Kanu. The federal court in Abuja has granted Nnamdi Kanu a fourth opportunity to defend himself against terrorism charges brought by the federal government. Judge James Omotosho adjourned the case, stating that the decision was made “in the interest of justice, both for the defendant and for the nation.” Kanu, who faces seven terrorism charges, insisted that there were “no valid terrorism charges” against him and declared he would not defend himself in a trial based on what he claimed was a repealed law. While the prosecution urged the court to enforce its earlier order that Kanu must either open his defense or waive his right to do so, the judge decided to grant the detained IPOB leader more time to consult with his legal team before resuming the proceedings. Kanu, who faces seven counts of terrorism, maintained that there were “no valid terrorism charges” against him and stated he would not defend himself in a trial based on what he considered to be a repealed law. @https://defenceweb.co.za/security/national-security/biafran-separatist-leader-arrested-and-will-face-trial-nigeria-says/ @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_People_of_Biafra @https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39793185 @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafra @https://www.britannica.com/place/Biafra @https://theconversation.com/a-breakdown-of-biafra-separatism-and-where-kanu-fits-into-the-picture-166235