The Apex Igbo Socio-cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has refuted the recent statements made by the former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon that the Nigerian, Biafran civil war was not targeted at the Igbo people.

Gowon stated that rather it was instead the secessionists who revolted against the Nigerian government in 1966.

Ohanaeze said such claims are not only gross misinformation but also a blatant misrepresentation of historical fact while describing the representation as an affront to the collective memory and dignity of the Igbo nation.

The lgbo group noted that it is a moral obligation to address the pervasive biases and distorted narratives perpetuated by General Gowon, who, as a 91-year-old former military head of state, was tragically manipulated by colonial powers and the Fulani oligarchy.

In a statement issued on Sunday by a factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze accused General Gowon of failure to protect the lives of Nigerians, especially the Igbos residing in the North during the crisis which led to the civil war.

The statement pointed out that unimaginable atrocities were committed against the Igbo people following the 1966 Northern riots, which pushed them into a position of strategic self-defence, a response to a war they did not initiate against the Nigerian government.

The statement partly read, “The grievous narrative that General Gowon has chosen to propagate must be corrected. History will judge Gowon harshly if he neglects this final opportunity to redeem himself by discarding the military mentality and outdated rhetoric of national unity.

“He must have the courage to disclose the truth about the influences that led him to abandon the Aburi Accord, a peace agreement that could have averted the tragic escalation of the Nigeria/Biafra War.

“Gowon’s military aggression toward the Igbo was not merely a reaction to secessionist desires but a strategically calculated action driven by British economic interests in the oil-rich Eastern region of Biafra and the retaliatory motives of the Fulani oligarchy.

The Igbo body added that God Almighty has granted General Gowon continued life for two significant purposes, first, to surrender to his conscience and seek God’s forgiveness, summoning his moral courage to openly confess his misdeeds and provide an accurate account of the Nigerian Biafran War; second, to facilitate healing by leading efforts toward reconciliation and reconstruction for the Igbo people.

Ohaneze, however, said, “It is indeed lamentable that Gowon’s recent self-aggrandizing statements, possibly designed to sanitize his image, instead continue to perpetuate a façade that insults the deeply felt grievances of the Igbo nation.

”Rather than embrace this moment for personal and national healing, he has insulted the memories of the three million innocent Igbo civilians who lost their lives during the civil war.

“His military pride and an oath of silence have tormented him for over five decades, leading to a deeply personal struggle that he must now confront.

”Ohanaeze’s unwavering advice to General Gowon is straightforward and urgent; as time passes, he must cease his evasive tactics, confront his conscience, and abandon the falsehoods surrounding this grave chapter of Nigeria’s history.

“With only limited time remaining, it is imperative that he speaks the unvarnished truth and seeks forgiveness from the Igbo people and Nigerians at large.

“The curses resulting from the atrocities committed, such as the Asaba massacre, and the tragic toll of three million lives must be lifted.

“The painful repercussions of Gowon’s actions continue to resonate today, affecting even communities in the Middle Belt, where violence perpetrated by Fulani militias persists.

“This is a poignant moment for his associates to create yet another opportunity for him to come forward, unburden himself, and speak the truth.

“The world is watching and waiting for General Gowon to rise to the occasion for the sake of posterity, the statement said.

Security operatives have rescued 13 abducted Benue Links passengers.

Ekwutosblog reports that the passengers were abducted at Eke in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Chairman of the Local Government Area, Adah Inalegwu, confirmed the rescue of the abductees on Sunday.

Inalegwu said that a joint operation by the police and vigilantes in that area led to the rescue of two of the abductees on Saturday.

According to him, youths of the area enlisted the services of those from neighbouring Kogi State, leading to increased pressure, which made the kidnappers abandon the remaining eleven victims at Oando village at about 4:00 pm on Sunday.

The local government chairman further said that the provision of logistics by Governor Hyacinth Alia, with improved security surveillance and tracking, led to the rescue of the victims.

The victims are being profiled before they are reunited with their families.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said, “I don’t have that information right now but will get back when I do.”

The Nigerian Senate has declared the recent mass killings of over 200 civilians in Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, and the massacre of 12 Kaduna indigenes in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, as acts of terrorism.

This came as the Red Chamber, on Wednesday, called for comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s national security strategy, including the adoption of community-based policing models more suited to protecting vulnerable populations.

While condemning the attacks, which occurred on June 18 and 21 as part of a broader, systematic campaign of violence, the Senate demanded urgent and wide-ranging federal intervention to halt the ongoing bloodshed across the country.

The resolution followed a motion on the Yelwata massacre moved by Senator Titus Zam (APC, Benue North West), under matters of urgent national importance during a highly emotional plenary session.

Quoting eyewitness accounts, Senator Zam said the assailants, armed with heavy weaponry, launched a coordinated night-time raid on Yelwata, resulting in widespread destruction, the deaths of more than 200 civilians, many of them women and children, and the razing of several communities.

He described the attack as deliberate and genocidal, emphasising that these were not isolated incidents or spontaneous clashes, but rather planned atrocities targeting vulnerable rural populations.

His sentiments were echoed by many of his colleagues, who took turns to express their anger, grief, and concern over the growing pattern of violence in Benue and other parts of Nigeria.

The Senate passed a resolution comprising several key demands and recommendations, including a call on the Federal Government to deploy additional military personnel to Benue State, particularly Yelwata and other known flashpoints, to prevent further attacks and restore security.

The Red Chamber also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the massacre, with the aim of identifying and prosecuting all perpetrators.

It further urged the Federal Government to compensate the families of the victims and commence the reconstruction of properties destroyed during the attack.

In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) stated that the violence in Benue reflects a broader breakdown of state capacity, urging the chamber to treat the situation as a national emergency rather than as isolated communal unrest.

He also called for a legislative oversight mission to ascertain the extent of the damage and ensure a proper government response.

Similarly, Senator Sadiq Umar (APC, Kwara North) highlighted comparable attacks in Patigi, Kwara State, underscoring that the violence in Benue is part of a growing national pattern.

In his contribution, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) advocated for the modernisation of intelligence gathering and security operations, suggesting technology-driven methods to enhance the effectiveness of responses in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, said, “What we are witnessing is state failure. And outside this chamber, there is a final judgment before God.”

Meanwhile, the Red Chamber on Wednesday erupted in grief and outrage over the gruesome killing of 12 wedding-bound travellers from Kaduna State, who were ambushed and murdered in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on June 21.

The victims, including women and children, were travelling in an officially marked Ahmadu Bello University bus when they were attacked by suspected local youths.

Rising under a motion of urgent national importance, Senator Ibrahim Khalid (PDP, Kaduna North) described the attack as “a chilling example of lawlessness and rising intolerance.”

He warned that the unchecked violence across the country signals a systemic breakdown of law and order.

“This was not a mistake. It was a barbaric act. The victims were clearly in a university vehicle, seeking directions, yet they were set ablaze,” Khalid lamented.

Seconding the motion, Senator Sunday Marshal Katung (PDP, Kaduna South) noted that retaliatory killings are fast becoming a dangerous norm.

He said, “If this ‘eye for an eye’ cycle continues, we will all end up blind,” urging the swift prosecution of the perpetrators and an end to impunity.

The lawmaker expressed cautious optimism over reports that arrests had been made, but insisted that justice must not only be promised, but delivered.

Other senators drew parallels with similar massacres in Benue and Southern Kaduna, calling for a coordinated national response.

The Presiding Officer, Senator Jibrin Barau, described the killings as “brutal and inexcusable.”

“Burning humans and the vehicle they came in is beyond heinous. This must not go unpunished. With President Tinubu reportedly issuing strong directives and the police confirming the arrest of 53 suspects so far, the Senate insists that anything short of full justice would only embolden future attackers. This was not just an attack on people. It was an attack on our collective humanity,” Senator Khalid said.