Army Declares MASSOB Directive on Civil War Memorials Illegal, Warns Against Unauthorised Gatherings


By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Nigerian Army, through Headquarters Operation UDO KA, has described as illegal and provocative a directive reportedly issued by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), instructing churches across the South-East and parts of the South-South to hold memorial services for victims of the Nigerian Civil War.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said the military empathises with families who lost loved ones during the civil war and recognises the sacrifices made in preserving Nigeria’s unity.

According to the statement, the memories of those who died during the conflict remain “indelible in the nation’s consciousness,” but stressed that there are already established national events recognised by the Federal Government for honouring fallen heroes.

The Army listed such occasions to include the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Nigerian Army Day Celebration, and Nigeria’s Independence Day, describing them as lawful platforms for national reflection, unity, and remembrance.

“True honour lies in unity, peace, and lawful remembrance, not in illegal directives by some irredentists aimed at sowing division and causing panic in the region,” the statement read.

Operation UDO KA further alleged that sympathisers of MASSOB and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were behind the directive, accusing them of attempting to create tension and destabilise the peace currently enjoyed in the South-East.

The Army therefore warned clerics, youths, and residents against participating in any activities linked to the directive, insisting that any gathering outside officially recognised national commemorations would not be tolerated.

“The directive by MASSOB is illegal, provocative, and must be disregarded by all,” the statement added.

The military also reassured residents, including churches and other religious bodies, to continue their lawful activities without fear, noting that security agencies remain fully committed to protecting lives and property across the region.

It warned that any individual or group found disrupting public peace or religious activities would face the full weight of the law.

The statement reaffirmed that the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to ensure peace and stability throughout the South-East.

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