A new pro-Biafra group, the Biafra Nations Youth League (BNYL), has joined the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), in its struggle for a sovereign state.
BNYL, according to its leader, Prince Robinson C. Obuka is a community-based organization of youths with headquarters in Bakassi Peninsula.
It was reportedly established on August 3, 2013 in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, following agreements by members and founders to uphold the unity of the various ethnic nations in the Bight of Biafra.
The group said it supported all the actions taken so far by IPOB on the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB is involved in a struggle for the actualisation of a sovereign state from the Nigerian state.
Already, IPOB has declared May 30 as a sit-at-home day to drive home its point and to further push for the unconditional release of its detained leaders, who are facing treason charges in a Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to an electronic message, “the BNYL believes in due process to freedom and especially due consultations and have assured the aggrieved people of Biafra that we will remain steadfast in the greater dream of achieving Biafra and would make sure the various ethnic nations stay focused’.’
Before throwing its weight behind IPOB, BNYL said it had begun grassroots mobilization in many towns of the coastal area and had expanded to the inland areas including the Igbo speaking territory who are majority tribe of Biafra.
In the past, the group said it had organised a congress with the Governing Council of former British Southern Cameroons in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State during which a declaratory speech in support of Biafra independence and Biafra-Southern Cameroons Coalition was made by the Council Deputy Leader, Applaud Prince.
“Following the development, President of Southern Cameroons Youth League and Secretary General of the Organization of Emerging African States, Dr Ebenezer Dereck Mbongo Akwanga, a one time prisoner spoke with IBTIMES UK that Biafra-Southern Cameroon Coalition is a possibility as the people share similar culture and history.
“Another activist from Manyu division, Comrade Ashu Shamy, a former SUG President in Cameroon and co-founder of BNYL confirmed that his people and Cross Riverians are one and would never kick against Biafra,” the statement read .
It said the group has also held a congress in Ekukunela, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State in honour of internally displaced natives of the Bakassi Peninsula last April.
The Federal Government has told the Biafran agitators to forget the idea, noting that after a 30-month civil war to keep the nation together, its unity remained non-negotiable.
On the 12 april 2016 following arrest of the Deputy Leader Comrade Ebuta Takon who was detained in Ikom for three days. The congress saw the announcement of the Biafra Youth resolution known as Akwa-Cross Declaration same day in Ekukunela with the presence of Ikom, Etung, Obubra, Boki and Bakassi youths which followed a demonstration by mostly Ejagham natives in the host town.
The Resolution gave more recognition to the Communal Congress stating that the League will be Congress minded and nation conscious. The League have organised series of combined Akwa-Cross elders and youths Congress in Eket, Akwa Ibom State where the BNYL was adopted as a household Organization. This followed Nembe Kingdom meeting in Bayelsa State to ascertain the grievances of the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that focus on blowing pipelines after hearing from the people of Nembe declared support for Avengers action due to neglect of the Niger Delta, a region that lies at the mouth of the ancient African Region, Bight of Biafra.
On November 05 2016 BNYL moved headquarters from Ikom to Bakassi following clashes between the militia group, Bakassi Strike Force and Nigeria Troops of Operation code named “Delta Safe” accusing the Nigerian Military of targeting natives, after blasting the government for ceding the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon without referendum urging the people to build faith in Biafra. The League currently have a Chief of Staff named Linus Essien who is also the leader of displaced Bakassi Youths. On Novenber 09 2016 the National Leader, Comrade Prince Obuka and some members of a Christian Charity that came with relief materials for IDPs were apprehended in Ikang-Cameroon boarder by troops and handed over to the Department of State Service DSS, Cross River State Command where they were detained for three days and was granted bail, troops revealed it was an order that came from Abuja. On 8 February 2017 the National Deputy Leader, Comrade Ebuta Tako, himself Ejagham native of Cross River was arrested in Ekok, a small Ejagham town in Mamfe area of Cameroon following his visit to the town. He was released on bail after two days in security net. The Biafra Nations Youth League have equally supported the actions by the indegenous people of Biafra IPOB who have engaged in streets protests against the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu as some members have been participating but organised by the IPOB.
The BNYL believes in due process to freedom and especially due consultations and have assured the aggrieved people of Biafra that ‘We will remain steadfast in the greater dream of achieving Biafra and would make sure the various ethnic nations stays focused.
