The Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF) has called on Ndigbo to boycott the general elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11, as a mark of solidarity for the continued detention of their leader, Benjamin Onwuka, and 10 others by the Federal Government.

The BZF said its call became necessary in lieu of the refusal of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu to grant bail to 11 pro-Biafra activists, who are standing treason trial.

Speaking to reporters in Enugu, on Sunday, the national chairman of BZF, Mr Onyia Cyril, said any harm done to the detained BZF members was a harm on Ndigbo in general.

He, therefore, called on the entire people of South-East not to participate in the elections as a show of solidarity to the detained activists.

According to him, “they have been in prison custody, not because they are pursuing a selfish cause, but for the singular reason that they are demanding the liberation of Ndigbo.

“To this end, we urge all worthy Igbo sons and daughters not to participate in the forthcoming elections; this is the only honour they should do to these great patriots.”

Onyia, who faulted the reasons given by the court, noted that “it is, indeed, very surprising that the court refused them bail on the grounds that they may cause security breach within this period; it is surprising because the BZF does not believe in violence, neither does it associate with any violent group. We can never disrupt any election, even though we shall abstain from voting.

“So, we are calling on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and see that these harmless freedom fighters are released.

“In our fight for freedom, we have never and will never take up arms against the state. Everything we are doing is within the ambit of all international laws and treaties.”

He called on the Amnesty International and the United Nations to urgently intervene into what he called “use of federal might and power against lawful Biafrans.”

The Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, last Thursday, refused to grant the bail application filed on behalf of the detained separatists.

•Text courtesy of Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows the detained BZF activists.

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