Biafra supporters lose millions of Naira for illegal passports, vehicle plates

Uwazuruike Ralph

The struggle, campaign and interest in the creation of an independent Biafra state (United States of Biafra) has made some agitators lose a lot of money in terms of millions of naira. Some of the victims even describes the incident as advance fraud.

Nnamdi Kanu who is the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB appears to be the current face of the agitation but Ralph Uwazuruike still exercises huge power as the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State Of Biafra MASSOB.

Recall that in 2015, Uwazuruike introduced the so-called Biafra vehicle plate and passports to instil confidence into people of the region that independence of the region was at hand. At the ceremony, Uwazuruike was seen holding up the new Biafra plate as well as documents to sustain the persuasion while enthusiasts hailed and commended the move. To the supporters, Biafra was real.

Biafran Passport and Vehicle plate number

So many of the Igbos subscribed to this scheme by buying new plates and passports offered by MASSOB. Some of the supporters believed what Uwazuruike told them they could use the visa to travel out of Nigeria and that Biafra has been accepted as an independent Biafra state, so they could enter any country with the passports.

Security operatives started arresting those with the plate numbers while those with the Biafra visa got utter rejection from any embassy they reached and some even faced imprisonment.

Ngwoke Ibem Ngwoke who is one of the victims labelled their predicament as ‘mass deception’.

He stated that: ''I paid N10,000 to buy the passport. At the time, I was the Administrative Secretary. Members and interested persons paid the sum of N10,000 into a designated bank account at First Bank, then presented the teller to me.

''I verified and issued receipt and they in turn took the receipt to the passport officer, who was delegated by Uwazuruike (MASSOB Leader), one Ambrose Anyasoh, who will see the receipt and then issue the passport.

''Based on the assurances given to us by Uwazuruike, which we didn’t know were all lies and make-believe, we even urged people to buy and use the passport for ease of travel.

''Uwazuruike told us that he was set to travel with the Biafran passport, assuring us that there was no hindrance or security encumbrances travelling with the Biafran passport.

''One of our aged members bought Uwazuruike’s story like many of us did at the time and convinced his daughter who was about travelling to Europe to use the passport. The lady was arrested in Lagos and was detained for nearly two years. Uwazuruike did nothing to free her''.

“Speaking about the area I operated and know very well, many people in the Nsukka area of Enugu State were clamped down in detention for several months for buying and using the MASSOB number plate as recommended by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.”

The MASSOB told the Pro-Biafra agitators, it was only in Nigeria that the passport was not valid but recognized in Europe and North America. While investigations to his claim in

He said: “I assure you that the Biafran passport is valid. Except Nigeria, other countries of the world accept Biafran passport and allow our citizens to travel with it. In Europe, North and South America, Biafran passport is accepted. Nigeria is the only country that seizes Biafran passport. Go to neighbouring Ghana here, they will stamp the passport for you. Don’t be confused by the propaganda of the Nigerian government that there is nothing like Biafra passport.

“MASSOB appeals to Biafran citizens to procure their passport and use it to travel. If you doubt me, get a Nigerian passport while I have my Biafran passport; when we get to Europe, you will see who they will welcome than the other. Many people with the Nigerian passport have been repatriated, but have you heard of anybody with Biafran passport receiving such ill-treatment?”

While investigations to his claim at the US consulate in Lagos and British high commission revealed that the Biafran passport was not recognized anywhere except in Biafra.

Via