ENUGU’S FALL Biafran Leader Blames Own Men

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 15

ENUGU’S FALL Biafran Leader Blames Own Men

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LAGOS, October 12.

Biafra’s leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, has blamed the fall of Enugu on his own troops, who shot their comrades in the back and shelled the rebel capital themselves.

The 33-year-old head of the former Eastern Region confirmed at a meeting in Umuahia yesterday that Federal troops had entered Enugu, according to Radio Biafra.

It was the first firm indication that the Biafran leaders had moved their headquarters about 80 miles to the south of Enugu city since Federal troops claimed they had captured it a week ago. The radio quoted Colonel Ojukwu as blaming the Federal march on Enugu—and the seizure of the univer-

1 sity town of Nsukka and other areas—on betrayal, sabotage and treachery by “a number of officers in positions of trust” in the Biafran Army. He spoke of Biafran troops being “shot from behind by fellow Biafran soldiers” and of Biafrans shelling Enugu. War to Go On The radio said the joint session of the breakaway region’s Consultative Assembly and House of Chiefs passed resolutions to continue the 14-week war against the Federal Government “until victory is achieved.” Radio reports from the selfproclaimed republic, which broke away from the Federation on May 30, are being interpreted in Lagos newspapers as signs of chaos and dissent among the secessionists.

The British Government, in a radio message from London, has advised all Britons to quit the territory for neighbouring Cameroun.