Federal Government Clamps On Radio Biafra

The federal government has finally closed Radio Biafra, after the previous claims by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), that it had jammed the signal turned out to be untrue.

The channel was off the air at 7:30 am on July 18 in Nnewi, Anambra state, Premium Times reports.

The radio signals was off the first time during the last one week. The government’s first reports of stopping the transmission and taking Radio Biafra’s equipment were false as of Friday night.

Emeka Mba, the director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said the commission had stopped the broadcasting of Radio Biafra.

Mba added that the radio’s engineers had been detained.

He said: “Working with security operatives, the commission has also tracked down, neutralized and confiscated transmitter equipment from several locations in the region.”

“Some suspects involved in the illicit broadcasts have also been arrested and taken to Abuja for questioning and prosecution.

“The commission has also worked with other agencies to remove the transmissions of the illegal station from the satellite, and this has put paid to the divisive and disruptive transmissions.”

Meanwhile, by 10:08 p.m. on July 17, hours after the NBC’s comment was issued, the radio station, was still blaring its message in at least one location in the South East — Nnewi, Anambra state.

Nnamdi Kanu, the director of the illegal channel, was at the time, receiving calls from Nigerians and also mocking the government. He said the actions of the government was making the station even more popular.

“Nothing can stop us and we are moving higher,” Kanu said. Radio Biafra also denied that its personnel were imprisoned.

It should be noted that the station, which claims to be broadcasting the ideology of the former breakaway republic, Biafra, has in the last weeks been disseminating inciting messages and propaganda.

The presidency recently denied the reports that President Muhammadu Buhari expressed anti-Igbo comments as was said in the Radio Biafra program.