Ebonyi Massacre Sparks Call for Self-Defense by Biafran Group

 

Following a recent massacre in Ebonyi State, a Biafran group led by Simon Ekpa is advocating for self-defense. The group, known as the United States of Biafra (USBG), has expressed outrage over the killing of over 20 villagers in the Nkalaha community of Ebonyi State.

Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, identifying as the Deputy Prime Minister of Biafra, stated that her group has approved self-defense and arms manufacturing bills to protect the people[1]. She claimed that during the 12th session of the USBG Cabinet meeting, bills were passed into law, affirming the rights to bear arms and self-defense. Orabueze asserted that the USBG is tasked with obtaining the means to locally manufacture defensive weapons.

This declaration follows accusations from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth council, who claimed that Governor Francis Nwifuru is not doing enough to protect the people and merely referred to the attackers as "strangers".

It is important to note that Nigerian laws prohibit arms bearing by non-security agencies, and open manufacturing of arms is not allowed. Intersociety, a civil rights group, recently claimed that security agencies and non-state actors killed 180 persons in South-East Nigeria between December 2024 and January 2025.

The Nigerian government has responded harshly to violence attributed to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Amnesty International has reported that Nigerian security forces have used excessive force, physical abuse, and extrajudicial executions.

IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, seeks to restore Biafra. While IPOB initially claimed to be non-violent, they have been accused of violent activities, including attacks on government infrastructure and people not sympathetic to their cause. Some sources indicate that IPOB has been responsible for attacks on police stations and the killing of police officers.