Nigerian Army Launches Manhunt for Pro-Biafra Newspaper Publishers in Aba

Posted by Odinaka on Wed 17th Aug, 2016 - tori.ng

Nigerian Soldiers have launched a manhunt for publishers of pro Biafra newspapers in Aba, Abia State.

Illustrative photo

A Newspaper vendor has exclusively revealed to Vanguard that the Nigerian Army have launched a manhunt for publishers of pro-Biafra newspapers in Aba, Abia state, adding that some soldiers accosted him and some of his colleagues demanding them to disclose the identity of the publishers of the Biafra newspapers circulating in the city.

In an interview with Vanguard, a publisher who declined to be named for fear of reprisal, condemned the action of the military, and denied that pro Biafra newspapers incite hatred among the people, stressing that they only publish Biafra stories as some national dailies do.

“We are publishing only reports about Biafra like other national dailies do. Let the military go and close down all the media houses because they are carrying Biafra stories, after all, we are not the only people publishing stories on Biafra.”

As at the time of filing this report, efforts to get the reaction of the Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Major Sidney Mbaneme, proved abortive as his mobile number was unavailable.

It can be recalled that soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion Asa, Ukwa West Council area, had on March 14, 2016, confiscated unsold and new editions of pro-Biafra newspapers; New Republic, Vesym, Freedom Journal, including copies of Authority newspapers in Aba.

Since then some of the vendors have devised strategies to conceal and sell the pro-Biafra newspapers and magazines which are in hot demand in the city. Pro Biafra newspapers reportedly sell more than national newspapers in Aba.