Nigerian Soldiers Arrest Veteran Nollywood Actor, Chiwetalu Agu for using Biafra Emblem

Date of Occurrence

October 7, 2021
State/Country

Anambra, Nigeria

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Description

Fans and lovers of Nollywood Actor, Chiwetalu Agu, are presently outraged as the celebrity spends his first night in the custody of the Nigerian Army following his arrest on Thursday.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that soldiers arrested the actor around Upper Iweka Bridge in Onitsha for wearing an outfit with Biafra inscriptions.

Agu was reportedly on a charity mission to the less privileged when he was arrested by soldiers.

The Nigerian Army in a statement said that the actor was arrested “while inciting members of the public and soliciting for support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra”.

In a telephone chat with The PUNCH on Friday, the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, said the actor was yet to be released as he was still being questioned.

The military official, however, said he could not ascertain whether Agu has been granted access to his lawyers.

Some Nigerians who are gutted by the action of the military have described the actor’s arrest as illegal.

Effiong said the military has no power in a constitutional democracy to arrest citizens except in very special and exceptional circumstances like during the war, state of emergency, insurrection, or riot.

“Supposing without conceding that the dressing of the legendary actor amounts to “incitement” as claimed by the Army, it is the Nigeria Police Force that should have responded. There is no evidence of incitement against him. Nothing was inscribed on the said cloth to incite the public,” he said, adding that the Army should apologize to the actor and pay him adequate compensation for “public humiliation”.

A Facebook user, Peter Udonsek, also described the arrest of Agu as “heartbreaking”. He lamented the “double standards” of the Army, saying the military has not deemed it fit to arrest controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, who has been seen hobnobbing freely with murderous bandits.

Similarly, Activist Deji Adeyanju flayed the Army over Agu’s arrest. “The same army that organizes Repentance Red Carpet ceremony for Boko Haram terrorists,” he threw a mocking jab at the military.

Olayomi Koiki, Spokesman for embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, also condemned the arrest of the actor in a Facebook post. “When is it a crime for someone to wear a cloth made with Biafran colors?” he queried.

see the link to watch the full video:https://fb.watch/8uGtNm-PvW/

Actions Taken

Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, has been released from Army custody a day after he was arrested for putting on an outfit with semblance to the Biafran flag.

This was made known via a video posted by Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike, on his Instagram page on Friday, where Agu was filmed with two representatives from the Actors Guild of Nigeria.
According to the video, Agu was released via the intervention of the AGN and according to one of the representatives, the actor is hale and hearty.

On the 12th of October Dss re-arrest veteran actor, Chiwetalu Agu and flew him to Abuja, bars family visitation.

The Department of State Services has flown veteran actor, Chiwetalu Agu, to Abuja as part of investigations for promoting Biafra and allegedly inciting members of the public. Agu was first arrested by the Nigerian Army on October 7, 2021, around Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State, for wearing a Biafra outfit while distributing bread and other items to the poor.

The army had accused him of soliciting support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra which has been accused of several acts of terrorism. He was subsequently handed over to the DSS for investigation and prosecution.

However, a relative of the Nollywood actor told The PUNCH that they had been denied access to him.

The relative, who wished to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the case, said Agu was first moved from Anambra to Enugu and then to Abuja.

He said attempts to see him in Abuja were rebuffed by the DSS.

“We spent two days trying to ascertain his whereabouts. We were later informed that he was moved to Enugu and then Abuja.“We heard that the idea is to move him away from the South-East. We have made efforts to see him, but the DSS has not granted us access. Even the lawyers have not been allowed to reach him,” the relative said.

Attempts to get a response from DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunaya, proved abortive as he rejected calls; while a text message had not yet been responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Agu, who has starred in several movies, including ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’, which is now showing on Netflix, has been a known supporter of the Biafra struggle.

He has also been critical of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for allegedly marginalizing the Igbo.