Biafra: the lie direct
Sir: The isVgeriai Biafra war has not been seen in its true perspective as regards the Western Ibos. It is commonly argued in Lagos and echoed by General Gowon's sup- porters that it is only General Ojukwu's regime. east of the N'it!r. that is determined to sever relations from Lagos and to control their internal security and external defence: that it was only the lbos of the former Eastern Rzg-on who were predominantly victims of the 1966 pogrom and the subse- quent 'Crush the Rebellion. crusade. Further, that at all material times since the end of May 1967. all the peoples of Nigeria have been united against Biafra. and that the Western lbos are quiescent and happy within the Federal fold. All these are misrepresen- tations.
Though Western Ibo land being virtually Midwest. have since the ghastly massacres of late 1966, in which over 10,000 Western Ibos were slaughtered. stated and demonstrated their determination to join the Easterners in any new political set-up. Lagos knows this fact. This genuine feeling among the rank and file of the Western Ibos made possible the seizure of the Midwest from Federal hands on 9 August 1967 with the creation of the short-lived Renublic of Benin shortly after and also explains the acquiescence of the local people in the oft alleged 'Biafran infiltrators'.
Though Western Ibo land being virtually occupied territory is technically within Nigeria, since the outbreak of hostilities it is the Western Ibos that have suffered more devastations and cold blooded killings at the hands -of 'the Nigerians. The Benin, Sapele, Warri massacres of 1967 as preludes, and later the calculated extermination and desecration of Asaba, Ibusa and Ishagu by the Nigerians, to mention a few, testify the plight, sustain the suspicions and justify the fears of Western Ibos in 'one Nigeria'. Since then unarmed villages, one after another, are constantly being invaded. looted, women and girls raped and huge sums of ransom money extorted from the poor peasants by the Nigerian army. Recently the Lagos authorities by mistake gave a clue to the frightening plight of the Western Ibos when Chief Anthony Enahoro announced that a Western Ibo village, 'Issele Uku was sacked'.
The recent reports of military operations in the Midwest have shown that the person- nel of the alleged 'Biafran infiltrators' (army) are Western Ibos who are fighting to liberate their fatherland. All these facts are played down by Lagos and ignored by the outside world. Abroad, and especially in the United Kingdom a majority of the Western lhos stand firm by Biafra and the survival struggle to liberate the entire Western lbo areas from Nigeria. It is common knowledge that Western Ibos at home, although denied freedom of expression except in accordance with 'the master's voice', nonetheless in the depth of their hearts acknowledge and accept the fact that so far experience has shown that the Western Ibos have no future in 'one Nigeria'. As it would be folly to ride against the tide, it would be realistic politics, therefore, for Nigeria and her supporters to concede to Biafrans and Western Ibos self- determination, cease hostilities, enter into peaceful negotiations to settle and foster good neighbour relations. It would be futile to continue the war and vainly hope to win the hearts of afflicted people by the force of arms. Enough is enough.
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