"FROM DETENTION I BECAME MORE BIAFRAN THAN EVER"-IPOB PROTESTER

"AFTER MY RELEASE FROM DETENTION, I BECAME MORE BIAFRAN THAN EVER"-IPOB PROTESTER

A Peaceful Biafra protester, who was arrested by the Nigeria Force in Rivers State and kept under detention for over Five Months without trial, was interviewed by Ibeh Gift Amarachi of Family writers and he made his ordeals known.                                             

WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

My names are Mr Anyanwu Chiwendu,I'm from Ubakala Umuahia in Abia State Biafra Land. I'm nicknamed 'BLACKY' by my friends, due to my dark colour.      

HOW WERE YOU DETAINED BY THE NIGERIA FORCE?    

During the first protest in Rivers State, before the Governor of Rivers State by name Governor Nyesom Wike banned peaceful protest in Rivers State, I was forcefully captured by the Nigeria Police alongside with other Peaceful protesters and we were taken to Mini-Okoro Police Station and then transferred to State CID in Rivers State. They were doing this transfer without deeming it fit, to let us know the exact crime we committed. We stayed at State CID without the notice of our Families and we were severely tortured like criminals. So surprise a Van came to State CID,we were handcuffed and taken to Port Harcourt Prisons. We stayed in Port Harcourt Prisons for over Months without trial or a contact with our Family members.         

HOW DID YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS GET TO KNOW YOU WERE TRANSFERED TO PORTHARCOURT PRISONS?

It was due to the alarm we raised and I'm convinced IPOB did same too via various platforms that we were allowed to contact our Family members, to tell them the exact place we were detained. I called my Wife and she contacted my Family members and Friends as well. My Wife usually come twice in a week to see me and she pays what the Prison warders tags, “GATE FEE OF ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NAIRA”, whenever she comes to pay a visit and same goes to my Friends and other Family members.

WHERE YOU ARMED WHILE PROTESTING, THAT WARRANTED THE ARREST AS CLAIMED BY NIGERIA FORCE?

No... I had nothing, except my phone which was in my pocket and Wristwatch. I went for a Peaceful protest, not a War. So, I had no weapon with me. We were protesting peacefully, without hurting or harming anyone from Eleme Junction towards Artillery and all of a sudden, heavily armed men and armored Cars, started shooting directly at us. Some of us were severely injured and about two persons died. While I was running to safe my Life, we were blocked and badly beaten by a combined team of Nigeria Police, Army and Navy. But the Van that took me and other Biafrans away was a Police Van and it was from Mini-Okoro Police Station. They stripped us our phones and Wrist watches and then threw us into the cell, calling us Criminals who want to divide Nigeria.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WHILE IN DETENTION?

Oh... It was indeed terrible. Nigeria is indeed a useless and hopeless Country, without respect for human right. We were taken to Mini-Okoro Police Station and beaten mercilessly. I was injured likewise other detained protesters, but we weren't given treatment. They later transferred us to State CID and finally to Port Harcourt Prisons, without trial for over Four months. Eighty Six captured IPOB peaceful protesters were kept in a very small room, including me. Most of us developed various infections and we were all denied Medical attention. There was no space to turn while sleeping, so one had to sleep straight and we developed what we tagged "DENGE",a kind of obvious lump of blood seen in any direction you lie with, since there was no space to turn our body all through the nights we spent in Prison. If you fall sick, is to your own detriment, because nobody will come to your aid or attend to you. Other Prisoners were treated well, but IPOB Prisoners, were given a different painful and animalistic treatment, as if we were criminals, even before trial. After several disturbance by IPOB,we were later given an opportunity to be trialed. When trial commenced, we were treated like criminals, as we were handcuffed while forcefully pushed into the Prison Van that took us to Port Harcourt Prisons. We sat on the floor during every trial.

WHAT WAS THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU BY THE NIGERIA GOVERNMENT?

The Lawyer said, we committed Treason, for agitating towards the restoration of Biafra and protesting peacefully. And it’s very funny. Our counsel argued and asked, if he knows what treason is? How can peaceful protesters commit treason? If we committed treason for peacefully protesting and asking for the release of the Leader of  Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that means every peaceful protester home and abroad should be charged for treason. IPOB have the right to Self-Determination and it is not treasonable, to exercise that right. We were later released, after over 5 months of detention.

AFTER YOUR ORDEAL WHILE IN DETENTION, WOULD YOU STILL PARTAKE IN ANOTHER PROTEST AND ALSO AGITATE FOR BIAFRA?

This is when the agitation started. To be candid, after my detention I became more Biafran than ever. My Spirit and Passion became stronger than ever. I will partake in any protest, until Director is released. They will detain and Arrest us, but this struggle must continue. I am now a full Biafran agitator, in fact nothing can stop the quest towards the restoration of Biafra.

WHAT IS YOUR PIECE OF ADVICE TO IPOB PEACEFUL PROTESTERS?
 I am advising them, never to give up on this quest. They will detain us and even kill us, but we shouldn't give up. All the Nigeria Government is doing, is to scare us and force us to give up on this struggle. But, everyone should remain resolute and formidable, because at the end we must win.