In a very controversial move, some Pro-Biafra activists who are
kicking for the break-away of the South-East from Nigeria, shared videos
of themselves tearing to pieces their Nigerian passport, denouncing
their citizenship. The activists
Over the weekend, no fewer than three videos were seen on Youtube
in which some Igbo activists denounced their citizenship of the country
and declared their allegiance to Biafra.
In one of the videos, a man introduced himself as Emenike Michael Nwofor and said,
"My names are Emenike Michael Nwaofor. I’m from Nnewi in Biafra
land; when there was Biafra, there wasn’t anything called Anambra
State. I would refuse to add that name called Anambra State to it. I am
from Nnewi, the former Enugu State.
I am living here in Bordeaux (France); I am an asylum seeker in
Bordeaux. I have been around Bordeaux for a year plus and we have been
able to gather the Biafran family here in France; we have been able to
register with the government of France as indigenous people of Biafra."
After a long speech, he subsequently brought out his Nigerian passport and tore the pages.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has, however, warned that such act is criminal and attracts a jail term.
While reacting to the development in an interview, the Public
Relations Officer of the NIS, Deputy Comptroller Ekpedeme King, said the
service was not aware of the passport tearing.
"There is a new Act called the Immigration Act 2015 which
stipulates the punishment for any alteration or destruction of Nigerian
passport; it is a jail term with conditions.
Those who mentioned their names, if we find out that they tore
their passports, will be taken to court. A process has to be followed."