The flag and currency notes of the defunct Republic of Biafra have surfaced in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
At different sections of the town, the flags could be seen hanging in strategic corners, especially areas close to public institutions.
Although no arrest has been made as a result of the development, it is generally believed that the emergence of the flag and currencies could be traced to the activities of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) whose activists have invaded Cross River State with a view to carrying out their pro-Biafra campaign.
Sunday Independent’s investigation revealed that MASSOB has commenced a mass recruitment of members in the state.
In line with the development that has caused serious concern in the state within government and private circles, security agencies have stepped up measures to track down members of MASSOB responsible for the action.
As one of the measures aimed as stopping MASSOB activists in the state, the State Security Services (SSS) last week invited some leaders of the Igbo community in the state for discussion on the issue.
Sources at the meeting, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Independent that some of the leaders were quizzed and advised to dissuade their youths from propagating the message of MASSOB in the state.
The sources further disclosed that the leaders were admonished not to engage in any action that could led to the breakdown of law and order in Cross River State, moreso as the state was a tourism destination in Nigeria.
At the weekend, Sunday Independent still discovered that some of the flags were still displayed in business areas in Calabar metropolis.
Few weeks ago, an activist of MASSOB was jailed in Asaba, the Delta State capital for attempting to hoist the Biafran flag.
It is a common method and strategy for terrorists to shift base to areas where they can easily work from and escape if needed...leaving gullible locals to bear brunt of government wrath and bad publicity.
What these MASSOB terrorists are doing is very annoying, pitching decent Nd'Igbo folks against my people. I wonder how this helps rebuild bridges of trust and good neighborliness seriously damaged by the Biafran war.
Biafra is a vanquished Republic whose flag and currency are illegal representations. That is very comfortable with us from the Old Calabar Province.
Leaders (of Cross River State, Ohaneze and Nd'Igbo state) should make every effort to exterminate these MASSOB terrorists in order to avoid serious problems in future.
When I saw the name of my good friend Ikpatt in that post, I knew it had to be something about his mortal nemesis - Biafra that has him so riled up. I have a feeling that Ikpatt is a secret admirer of the Biafran state. It is amusing to see that official BiafraNigeria reacts to the Biafran flag and currency the same ghoulish way that weak apparitions in those horror movies react to the sight and sign of the crucifix.
[ June 13, 2005, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: Seun ]
___________________ You ain't seen nothing yet Posts: 150 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Seun Where the heil have you been, anyways I knew it will take your old nemesis Clement Ikpatt to bring you out. Well I am not surprised one bit by Clement Ikpatt, I am glad that he is still alive and kicking.
posted
If Clement Ikpatt can refer to MASSOB as Terrorist, i wonder what he will call OPC, Arewa, MOSSOP and other groups that maim and kill oil workers in Rivers and Delta. What name will he call the two waring factions in Rivers? the same groups that Riverstate govt. spent billion of naira on in exchange for guns. The same group whose leader OBj sent the presidential jet to pick up.
These are the real Terrorist.
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
How body? I have been quietly enjoying BNW from from ROMland, staying safely away from the crossfire. I noticed you'd been scarce yourself, until I read about your trip to Obtusanjoland. Welcome back.
___________________ You ain't seen nothing yet Posts: 150 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Could it be possible that Obasanjo is stuffing his big belle with Biafra baby notes too. You know that man want to get all the money in this world before he leaves office. Remeber the 2.8 billion he stole in 1978 finished that was why he came back for the second missionary journey.
posted
Some body should sent this message to that MOB calles cLEMenT ikPAtt.
God's INEVITABLE Punishments seriously awaits those who had been causing severe pain on MASSOBIANS.
___________________ Hustler by nature criminal by LAW. It is heart wrenching that in today oNe niGERia MURDERERS and CRIMINALS are seen as HEROES. Posts: 7 | From: Tokyo Japan | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged
Oluyinka Akintunde, Tobi Soniyi and Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service has placed its officers and men at all the borders, airports and seaports and patrol teams on alert over the smuggling of Biafran currency into the country.
Reports indicated that the Biafran currency, which was in circulation during the civil war between 1967 and 1970, is currently being circulated in some parts of the country and the West African sub-region.
The Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, who confirmed this to our correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja, said the government agency was looking out for smugglers of the outlawed currency.
"This is a national issue and the agency has already put all its officers manning the approved borders and entry points into the country on red alert to look out for the smugglers of these currencies," said Adeniyi, a Superintendent of Customs.
He stated that the agency was yet to arrest any of the traffickers in the illegal currency.
He maintained that the agency would apply the normal sanctions, including confiscation and prosecution, on smugglers of the Biafran currency.
Reacting to the reports of smuggling of arms and ammunitions, the Customs' spokesman stated that the agency would not compromise on its arrest of smugglers of arms and ammunitions into the country.
The Federal Government had last week reacted to the reports of circulation of the Biafran currency, saying that it would apply the full weight of the law on anyone circulating the currency.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, the government described the currency in circulation as "worthless and illegitimate."
The statement read, "The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to the reports of continued circulation of the Biafran currency in some parts of Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region.
"Investigations have shown that the circulation of the Biafran currency is being encouraged among mostly ignorant persons in rural areas by fraudsters who contrive to exchange them for the legitimate currencies possessed by their unwary victims through giving them the false impression that Biafran currency will regain legitimacy soon."
The government further warned that the currency did not constitute legal tender in Nigeria or any other country, noting that the claims that the use of the currency had been approved by the United Nations were untrue.
"Anyone who continues to circulate the illegal currency should be prepared to face the full wrath of the law as law enforcement agencies have been directed to crackdown forcefully on their criminal activity," Nweke stated.
The PUNCH, Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Copyright 2005 Punch (Nigeria) Limited. All Rights Reserved
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
Police, SSS, EFCC, Customs hunt for Biafra currency importers
Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja and Sesan Olufowobi
Security agents drawn from the Nigeria Police, State Security Service, Customs and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have mounted a massive manhunt for importers of Biafran currency.
Security sources said during the week that the security agents were working on information that the outlawed currency was being imported through the borders.
Our correspondent, who visited Seme border between Nigeria and Benin Republic some days ago, learnt from a Customs officer that intelligence report indicated that the currency was being brought into the country in bags by unidentified persons.
According to the officer, who declined to be named, the importers usually conveyed them in small quantities to avoid detection.
The Customs officer said although security agencies were aware of the surreptitious importation of Biafran currency, they had refrained from searching persons coming into Nigeria in order not to breach the ECOWAS convention on free transborder movement.
He said, “It is not true that the money is being spent at the country’s borders. We know that they print the money outside the country and bring it in through the border, especially Seme here. Then they take it to their region (South-East) to spend.”
According to another officer, “Normally, it is when you have more than $5,000 or its equivalent that you declare your cash; and even then, it is voluntary. So, if they have less, they don’t have to declare and if they have more and they decide not to say anything, there is no way we can know about it. If they have this Biafran currency on them, there is no magic by which we can know.”
An SSS source told our correspondent on Thursday that the government was not initially disturbed when the news was first broken in the media but later became uncomfortable when intelligence reports showed that large quantities of the currency were in circulation.
When contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, confirmed that security agents were on the lookout for those circulating the currency.
Adeniyi said on Thursday, “This is a national issue and the agency has already put all its men manning the approved borders and entry points of the country on red alert to look out for the smugglers and the printers of these currencies.”
Also on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ighodalo (SP), said, “The Federal Government is investigating the situation. The various security agencies saddled with the responsibility of unraveling the source of the currency are working on it, including the police.”
A team of security agents recently combed parts of Onitsha Main Market on a false tip that it was being printed there.
Members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) penultimate Saturday openly paraded bundles of the currency in a bold march in some parts of Onitsha, urging people to dump the naira for the Biafran pound.
___________________ Free Uwazurike Now!
Now is the winter of our discontent...made glorious summer by this [rising] sun of York. Posts: 325 | From: London | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Roll 2]](graemlins/roll2.gif)
