Biafra Day Massacre: Biafran Journalists Embark On Fact Finding In Nkpor...

• ST. EDMUND'S CHURCH WAS A SCENE OF HORROR AND BLOODSHED

This article was written by Chima Onyekachi and Ifeanyi Chijioke.
For Family Writers

The massacre of peaceful and law abiding Biafrans who had come from all over Biafraland to pay homage to their fallen heroes and heroines in the Biafra Genocide of 1967-1970 started from St Edmund's Catholic Parish.

Two days after the incident in the church where Nigeria armed forces opened fire on innocent Biafrans inside the church, Chima Onyekachi,Ifeanyi Chijoke and Chukwuemeka Nduka, went on a fact finding mission to the church located at Maryland, Nkpor-Agu, Anambra State. 

Our entrance into the street where the church is located caused a stir as everyone in their kiosks and shops began to panic and did not want to talk to us even when we introduced ourselves as journalists. Those who talked to our investigator, Chukwuemeka Nduka, who went covert described the incident as a horror and decried the actions of the security agencies who have been visiting the church and environs since the incident, causing panic and fear.

We found our way into the church premises which was immaculate and quiet. We met two security guards and told them of our mission and requested to see the Parish Priest or Catechist. Our request was declined on the excuse that the whereabouts of the Parish Priest is unknown and that the Catechist went for a burial ceremony. We realized there is a secondary school in the church premises and requested to see the principal which was also declined. Our investigation took us round the church where shattered glass windows with bullet holes were found on the building. Everyone we tried to speak to in the premises refused to speak out of fright. 

Pastor Linus Izabi, a survivor and eyewitness of the incident spoke on phone to Chima Onyekachi of Family Writers. He spoke as thus: "I was sent to go and welcome those at St. Edmund's Catholic Church. They were over 200 Biafrans already inside, the atmosphere was calm and bubbling in anticipation of the next day event. At about 3am, reports came in that those from Aba have been halted at Nkpor junction and that Nigeria armed forces were tracing us to St. Edmund's church, so the IPOB security team raised an alarm but the soldiers were already at the church gate. The church gate was broken down by the soldiers who invaded the church premises and opened fire on innocent Biafrans. 

There was a stampede due to the shooting, the soldiers took the dead bodies of our people they have killed and left. The injured ones were taken to the hospital and some of them died on the way due to over bleeding. Scores were arrested and we have no contact with them till now I am talking to you. I am lucky to be alive but I am more motivated to keep fighting for our freedom." 

The invasion of a church by Nigeria armed forces has shown the desperation of President Muhammadu Buhari in collaboration with Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state to exterminate Biafrans. Has any mosque been invaded in the search for Boko Haram? This action is a declaration of war on Christians in Biafraland and should not be taken for granted. The killings are no different from what is happening to Christians in Iraq and Syria by Islamic terrorists-ISIS.