We were forced to kill Biafra protesters, says Nigerian Army

The Nigerian army says it shot pro-Biafran protesters on Monday over “unwarranted attack, breach of peace and creation of wide spread panic, tension and apprehension”.

Sani Usman, deputy director, army public relations, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Several protesters commemorating the 49th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Biafra Republic by Odumegwu Ojukwu, were shot across the south-east, resulting to causalities on the side of the military and the protesters.

But Usman justified the action, saying the security agents resorted to rules of engagement as a result of the violent attacks from the activists.

“Due to the wide spread panic, tension and apprehension that generated from the activities of the MASSOB and IPOB members, security agencies which comprised of detachment of Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were compelled to intervene in consonance with constitutional provisions of aid to civil authority where and when such occasion demands,” the statement read.

“The over arching imperative to ensure a reign of peace, security and stability in this circumstance was most starring.

“The nature of this attack involved brazen employment of various types of fire arms and all sorts of crude weapons, volatile cocktail such as acid and dynamites.

“Instructively, troops of 82 division Nigerian army as the lead agency of the security agents had to invoke the extant Rules of Engagement (ROE) to resort to self defence, protection of the strategic Niger Bridge, prevent re-enforcement of the pro-Biafra members apparently surging ahead from the far side of the strategic Niger Bridge at Onitsha. All these efforts were in order to de-escalate the palpable tension as well as ward off the apparent threats to lives and property in the general area.

“In the aftermath of the fire fight that ensued, many of own troops sustained varying degrees of injury. These injured troops are currently receiving treatment at own medical centre. Similarly, 5 members of MASSOB/IPOB were killed, 8 wounded while 9 were arrested for due legal actions.”

Militants threaten to shut Nigeria’s airspace, ask soldiers to leave Niger Delta

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), which claim to be the highest organ of “all the freedom fighting body”, has threatened to shut Nigeria’s airspace, giving soldiers a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the group threatened to declare full blown war if the military continues its operation in the region.

The group vowed to launch six missiles in the region in the Niger Delta on June 7, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to break up Nigeria.

The group said it was fully prepared for the alleged agenda of the president.

Below is the statement

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) which is the highest organ of all the freedom fighting body has finally endorsed the followings:

1. After extensive and exhaustive deliberation by all Commanders of various groups in Yenagoa, the heart of the Niger Delta struggle met last night and as part of our mission, we are going to test six (6) of our MISSILES in the region. This is to show the federal government of our readiness of the American prediction.
2. There should be NO any form of helicopter to fly around in the region as we will not guarantee the safety of such object.
3. The people of the Niger Delta region should not be panic in course of test running the 6 MISSILES.
4. We may also decide within the week to shut down the Nigerian satellite orbit, so that there will be no communication in the country if needs arise.
5. Within our three (3) days operations, NO airplane should fly out of the country because it can target such object no matter how small or big it may be.
6. Our Fighter Expert Team shall be position in the six (6) Niger Delta states, who are already arrived the region from training through our country’s porous borders with our foreign partners who are going to showcase what they have learnt in past on year.
7. Our struggle is not for any human blood, but we have been pushed to the wall for justice because our patience is running out on daily basis as Nigerian uniform men killing our innocent people continuously.
8. Nigerian military should as a matter of urgency leave peacefully the Ijaw communities they are presently in, the next 48 hours under the guise of searching for the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) or else we should not be blamed of whatever catastrophe that may befall on such officers and the likely affected families of the officers should blame not the region.
9. We have consulted our war gods (deities) that enough is enough and that the time has come. Since the present Pharaoh of Nigeria, President Buhari is to preside over the disintegration of the country it is a good omen.
10. Henceforth, any attack on Ijaw communities or person(s) by the military or para-military body in the region, we will not hesitate to order our shoot-at-sight squad of any uniform personnel in the region.
11. We ask all Service Chiefs including Minister of Defence to shamefully resign their positions because Nigeria has no security in whatever form. Bravo to our Foreign Marine Crack Team for their ability to shut down Nigerian obsolete surveillance equipments.
12. For the records, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) are not in Delta state, we only go there to strike and return back safely to the struggle base, Bayelsa state.
13. We further warn especially Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, Information Commissioner in Bayelsa state not to criticize our activities any longer or else he has a choice of leaving the planet earth anytime he made such statement(s).
14. All oil and gas operations should shut down immediately as our MISSILES testing will affect their equipments.
15. NOTE, we shall commence MISSILES testing on Tuesday 7, June 2016 which coincide with the date of our training abroad. Since the present Pharaoh of Nigeria (Buhari) fails to our demands. We promised Nigerians and the entire world that we are going to surprise them.

Source: The Cable

Nigeria is our biggest business hub in Africa, says British Airways

British Airways has reiterated commitment to the Nigerian aviation market as it said that the country route remains its biggest business hub in Africa.

The airline, in a statement, debunked media reports that it was planning to stop operations to Nigeria over its $100 million trapped in the country.

It said that the airline was misrepresented by the media in some misguiding reports that it had concluded plans to exit the country, stressing that it was not true and the airline never issued any statement to the media indicating such.

The airline said it has a long history in Nigeria as it began operations in the country 80 years ago as Imperial Airways. It maintained that Nigeria remains a strategic market for the airline, adding that its operations locally are very strong.

“We have not issued any statements at any time indicating that we are on the verge of terminating operations in the country. We will continue daily operations into Nigeria,” the airline said.