Some defiant members of the pro-Biafran group, the Biafran Zionists Movement (BZM) led by Benjamin Onwuka, a lawyer on Thursday re-launched an attack on the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) in a failed attempt to make a live broadcast ‘overthrowing the government of Nigeria’.
Members of the group said to have numbered over 50 were said to have stormed the state radio station as early as 5.30 am, beating and seizing workers on duty while trying to make a forceful access into the station’s studio.
Clutching guns, machetes, bottles, petrol and other dangerous weapons including Biafran flags, an attempt to stop them resulted to a shootout that took the life of a Police Inspector and two other persons among the group.
State Police Commissioner, Abubakar Mohammed, who confirmed the incident Thursday evening, said the mission was to make a live broadcast “overthrowing the government of Nigeria and burning down the television station when challenged”.
He stated that 13 members of the group including their leader, Benjamin Onwuka were arrested. The group had for about four hours on March 8 attacked the Enugu government house, where it hoisted flags and other property belonging to the group and since then, not hidden its intention to declare Biafra in the whole of south east.
Although the Police had on March 12, declared its leader, Onwuka “wanted for treasonable felony”, while it arraigned in court, five persons arrested over the government house attack, the group again struck at the state radio and television station Thursday.
Onwuka, who was not part of the attack at Enugu government house, however led the group in the Thursday invasion.