The agitation and interest in the establishment of an independent Biafra state has made some agitators lose millions of naira and fall victim to what they later described as advanced fraud.
Although the renewed agitation for Biafra seems to have reached an all-time high during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the interest started before then.
Nnamdi Kanu seems to be the new face of the agitation as the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra but Ralph Uwazuruike still wields enormous power as the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State Of Biafra.
Ralph Uwazuruike
In 2015, Uwazuruike launched the so-called Biafra vehicle plate and visa to much aplomb as this was supposed to signify a gradual independence region. During the ceremony Uwazuruike was seen holding up the new Biafra plate as well as documents to back it up while supporters hailed and applauded the move. To them, Biafra had arrived.
Many Igbos bought into the scheme with reports of commercial drivers paying and receiving receipt which would enable them to get the new plate. A few got theirs while others waited in line for months to be issued their plate numbers; they were the lucky ones.
Those who rode their vehicles with Biafra plate numbers were arrested by security operatives with their vehicles seized. They were shocked because they were convinced the documents they were given would prove the validity of the plate numbers.
Biafran passport
The situation was worse for those who were issued Biafra visas and convinced that they could use it to travel out of Nigeria. They were told that Biafra has been recognised as an independent Biafra state and they could ravel with it.
Those who fell for this scheme not only lost millions of naira but also suffered rejection at the embassies and faced imprisonment.
One of the victims, Ngwoke Ibem Ngwoke, described their misfortune as ‘mass deception’.
He said: ''I paid N10,000 to buy the passport. At the time, I was the Administrative Secretary. Members and interested persons paid the sum of N10,000 into a designated bank account at First Bank, then presented the teller to me.
''I verified and issued receipt and they in turn took the receipt to the passport officer, who was delegated by Uwazuruike (MASSOB Leader), one Ambrose Anyasoh, who will see the receipt and then issue the passport.
''Based on the assurances given to us by Uwazuruike, which we didn’t know were all lies and make-believe, we even urged people to buy and use the passport for ease of travel.
''Uwazuruike told us that he was set to travel with the Biafran passport, assuring us that there was no hindrance or security encumbrances travelling with the Biafran passport.
Biafra vehicle plate
''One of our aged members bought Uwazuruike’s story like many of us did at the time and convinced his daughter who was about travelling to Europe to use the passport. The lady was arrested in Lagos and was detained for nearly two years. Uwazuruike did nothing to free her''.
“Speaking about the area I operated and know very well, many people in the Nsukka area of Enugu State were clamped down in detention for several months for buying and using the MASSOB number plate as recommended by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.”
Uwazuruike had explained to pro-Biafra agitators that it was only in Nigeria that the passport was not valid but that it was acceptable in Europe and North America.
He said:“I assure you that the Biafran passport is valid. Except Nigeria, other countries of the world accept Biafran passport and allow our citizens to travel with it. In Europe, North and South America, Biafran passport is accepted. Nigeria is the only country that seizes Biafran passport. Go to neighbouring Ghana here, they will stamp the passport for you. Don’t be confused by the propaganda of the Nigerian government that there is nothing like Biafra passport.
“MASSOB appeals to Biafran citizens to procure their passport and use it to travel. If you doubt me, get a Nigerian passport while I have my Biafran passport; when we get to Europe, you will see who they will welcome than the other. Many people with the Nigerian passport have been repatriated, but have you heard of anybody with Biafran passport receiving such ill-treatment?”
An inquiry into the claim made by the MASSOB at the US consulate in Lagos revealed that the Biafran passport was not recognized.
The deputy public affairs officer at the consulate said: “The United States does not consider passports purporting to be from a Biafra entity to be a valid legal document for purposes of visa issuance.”
The British high commission in Abuja came up with a similar reply. The diplomatic mission say the UK does not recognize the Biafran passport and as the country did not support the secession during the Civil War and thus its stance has not changed.
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