The Headquarters of Operation UDO KA has declared as illegal a directive allegedly issued by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), instructing churches in the South-East and parts of the South-South to hold memorial services for victims of the Nigerian civil war.
In a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, the military described the directive as provocative and capable of disrupting the peace currently enjoyed in the region.
Operation UDO KA stated that while it empathises with families who lost loved ones during the civil war and recognised the sacrifices made in preserving Nigeria’s unity, there are already established national events approved by the Federal Government for honouring fallen heroes.
According to the statement, such occasions include the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, and Nigeria’s Independence Day, which it described as lawful platforms for reflection, unity, and remembrance.
The military further accused sympathisers of MASSOB and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of attempting to create tension and panic through the directive.
“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 said.
Operation UDO KA warned clerics, youths, and residents of the South-East against participating in any gathering or activity outside officially recognised commemorations, stressing that such actions would not be tolerated.
The military also reassured residents, including churches, to continue with their lawful activities without fear, adding that anyone found disrupting public peace or religious activities would face the full weight of the law.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, to safeguarding lives and property and maintaining peace across the South-East.
