Nigerian Army Rejects MASSOB’s Civil War Memorial Plan, Warns Churches Against Participation
The Nigerian Army has urged churches and residents across the South-East and parts of the South-South to disregard what it described as an “illegal directive” by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to hold memorial services for victims of the Nigerian Civil War.
MASSOB had reportedly directed churches in the South-East and some neighbouring areas to organise special memorial and thanksgiving services on May 31, 2026, in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the 1967–1970 civil war. The proposed services were also intended to mark the anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Republic of Biafra by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Reacting to the directive, the Nigerian Army, through a statement issued on Friday by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Enugu, said while the military recognises the pain and sacrifices of families affected by the war, remembrance activities must be conducted within the framework of nationally recognised events.
According to the Army, officially sanctioned occasions such as Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Nigerian Army Day Celebration, and Independence Day provide lawful avenues for honouring fallen heroes and reflecting on the nation’s history.
“Operation UDO KA remembers with compassion the sacrifices of the fallen heroes, which can never be forgotten. However, true honour lies in unity, peace, and lawful remembrance, not in illegal directives by irredentist groups aimed at sowing division and creating panic in the region,” the statement said.
The Army described MASSOB’s directive as “illegal and provocative,” warning that any gathering or activity outside recognised national commemorations would not be tolerated.
Ayeni further alleged that sympathisers of MASSOB and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were using the planned memorial activities to incite tension and undermine the relative peace currently enjoyed in the region.
He cautioned clerics, youths, and community leaders against participating in the proposed events, stressing that security agencies would act decisively against anyone found disrupting public order.
“Operation UDO KA wishes to reassure the general public, including churches, that they should go about their lawful activities without fear of intimidation. Any individual or group that disrupts public peace or religious activities will face the full weight of the law,” the statement added.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment, alongside other security agencies, to protecting lives and property while maintaining peace and stability across the South-East.