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- Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on Friday 5 August 2016

Information on an attack on a church by police/military on 29 May 2016, in which IPOB members were staying

Agence Presse in June 2016 notes:

“ on Friday claimed the Nigerian military shot dead unarmed civilians before a march to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Biafran declaration of independence. But the army rejected the claims, accusing pro-Biafran protesters of being armed, violent and carrying out "wanton destruction" and "a number of unimaginable atrocities". Police have said at least 10 people were killed -- five in the town of , , and five in Asaba, in neighbouring -- in violence linked to the commemoration on May 30. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, which has revived calls for an independent homeland for the in southeast Nigeria, claimed at least 35 were killed. Amnesty said it was unclear exactly how many people lost their lives, as soldiers -- who the army says acted in self-defence -- took away the dead and injured…IPOB maintained the protesters were unarmed and one man interviewed said he threw stones but the military and police fired back teargas then used live ammunition. Another said soldiers stormed a church where protesters were sleeping the night before the march and let off teargas, while another said he saw a young boy shot dead as he had his hands up” (Agence France Presse (10 June 2016) Amnesty backs Biafra group's shooting claims).

A report issued in June 2016 by Amnesty International notes that:

“An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International has confirmed that the gunned down unarmed people ahead of last month’s planned pro- Biafran commemoration events in Onitsha, Anambra state. Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses, morgues and hospitals confirms that between 29-30 May 2016, the Nigerian military opened fire on members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), supporters and bystanders at three locations in the town” (Amnesty International (10 June 2016) Nigeria: Killing of unarmed pro-Biafra supporters by military must be urgently investigated).

This report also states:

“A joint security operation was carried out by the Nigerian army, police and navy between the night of 29 May and throughout 30May, apparently intended to prevent a march by IPOB members from the Nkpor motor park to a nearby field for a rally. Before the march began the military raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping. IPOB supporters told Amnesty International that hundreds of people who had come from neighbouring states, were asleep in the St Edmunds Catholic church when soldiers stormed the compound on 29 May” (ibid).

In June 2016 the Society for Threatened Peoples states in a report that:

“After 35 Biafrans lost their lives when police and military forces broke up protests in southeastern Nigeria on Monday, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) now calls for an independent investigations…The protests are to be seen in connection with the 49th anniversary of the Biafra's declaration of independence from Nigeria…Activists had called for prayer meetings in churches and for public demonstrations throughout Biafra, which were attended by thousands of Christian Biafrans. The security forces even raided churches to prevent protests and to arrest demonstrators or eyewitnesses. The worst clashes occurred in the city of Onitsha (Anambra State), where at least 30 people were killed” (Society for Threatened Peoples (1 June 2016) Biafra: At least 35 killed in crackdown on protests).

No further information on this issue could be found among sources available to the RDC.

References

Agence France Presse (10 June 2016) Amnesty backs Biafra group's shooting claims http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/legal/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb =21_T24476081567&format=GNBFULL&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrl Key=29_T24476081571&cisb=22_T24476081570&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi= 10903&docNo=3 This is a subscription database Accessed Friday 5 August 2016

Amnesty International (10 June 2016) Nigeria: Killing of unarmed pro-Biafra supporters by military must be urgently investigated https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/06/nigeria-killing-of-unarmed-pro- biafra-supporters-by-military-must-be-urgently-investigated/ Accessed Friday 5 August 2016

Society for Threatened Peoples (1 June 2016) Biafra: At least 35 killed in crackdown on protests http://www.ein.org.uk/members/country-report/biafra-least-35-killed-crackdown- protests This is a subscription database Accessed Friday 5 August 2016

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Refugee Documentation Centre within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to.

Sources Consulted

Amnesty International BBC News Electronic Immigration Network European Country of Origin Information Network Freedom House Google Human Rights Watch Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre International Crisis Group IRIN News Lexis Nexis Minority Rights Group International Online Newspapers Refugee Documentation Centre E-Library Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database Reliefweb Reuters Home Office United States Department of State UNHCR Refworld