ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA

By Ama Chukwugoziem (Abia writers)
Edited by Livingrich Ezeikpe
On August 30th of each year, the world observes the International Day of the victims of enforced Disappearances. The aim is to raise awareness that enforced Disappearance is a crime and criminal act, and Activists and families around the world use the opportunity to call upon governments to resolve cases resulting to this inhuman treatment, provide answers and accountability.

That of Thursday, August 30th, 2018, has come and gone. According to Abia writers, who monitored the event, live from the UN headquarters, the problem is widespread. According to them, since its inception in 1980, the UN working group on enforced or involuntary Disappearances has transmitted 56,363 cases across 112 countries but thousands of the cases are not reported to the UN system. Among the unreported cases is the forceful disappearance of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a human right activist, a freedom fighter and the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and his family on the 14th September, 2017 under the guise of operation python dance (ii) by the Nigerian government resulting in the unwarranted and unnecessary killings of not less than 29 Biafran youths in his compound.

The Nigeria Islamic government just denied the disappearance of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his parents on the 14th September 2017 even when the invasion of the palace of Eze Israel Kanu was shown live on Facebook. Neither Mazi Nnamdi Kanu nor his parents have been seen after that infamous invasion. They claimed that the disappeared are hiding to evade debt obligations or are felons dodging arrest.  This enforced Disappearance is used as a strategy to spread terror within Biafraland. Unfortunately, the phenomenon continues to grow.

This murderous army had just commenced their third staging "operation python dance III” just for continuous terrorizing and intimidation of the peaceful Biafran nation. The enforced disappearances of Biafrans continue on daily bases, but the media in Nigeria refuse to talk about it. The victims following the denial of responsibility by Nigerian government are removed from legal protections; remain at the mercy of their captors, risk severe torture, inhuman treatment, and extrajudicial killing. Individuals subjected to enforced disappearance are at high risk of ill-treatment and the use of outlawed torture methods. These are what Biafrans pass through in the hands of the Nigerian government.

Unfortunately, the United Nations and 'enlightened' western countries continue to ignore real human rights violations in Nigeria.  Meanwhile, Self-determination is not a crime; therefore we are requesting the United Nations to stand for justice on the issue of Biafra referendum. We are dying in the hands of Nigeria, and your silence on the subject is making matters worse. The only way to end enforced disappearances of Biafrans is to enforce the restoration of Biafra.

Moreover, the Buhari led administration under whose authority this enforced disappearances of Biafrans are occurring must do well to provide the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his parents, and other disappeared Biafrans, especially as this enforced disappearances, are against human rights.
Biafra restoration is our last hope.