The Headquarters of Operation UDO KA has declared as illegal and provocative a directive allegedly issued by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, urging churches in the South-East and parts of the South-South to organise Civil War Memorial services for victims of the Nigerian civil war.
Key Highlights:
- Army declares MASSOB Civil War Memorial directive illegal
- Operation UDO KA warns churches against unauthorised gatherings
- Military says only recognised national events should honour war victims
- Security agencies accuse IPOB and MASSOB sympathisers of attempting to create tension
- Churches urged to continue activities without fear
- Army warns violators will face legal consequences
In a statement released on Friday, Operation UDO KA cautioned residents, clerics, and youths against participating in any unauthorised Civil War Memorial gathering linked to the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) or the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The military stated that while it empathised with families who lost loved ones during the Nigerian civil war, only officially recognised national events should serve as platforms for remembrance and tribute.
According to the statement, occasions such as Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Nigerian Army Day Celebration, and Nigeria’s Independence Day already provide lawful avenues for remembrance, reflection, and national unity.
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“True honour lies in unity, peace, and lawful remembrance, not in illegal directives by some irredentists aimed at sowing division and causing panic in the region,” the statement read.
Operation UDO KA further warned that any gathering or activity outside recognised national commemorations would not be tolerated, alleging that sympathisers of MASSOB and IPOB were attempting to create tension and destabilise peace across the South-East.
The military urged churches in the region to disregard the directive and continue their religious activities without fear or intimidation.
It also reassured residents that security agencies remained committed to protecting lives and property across the South-East, warning that anyone found disrupting public peace or religious activities would face the full weight of the law.
The statement was signed by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, on May 29, 2026.
