STADIUM; CLERGY; COLLECTION BEING MADE; CROWD DEPARTS.




Initials PW/V/RM/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE CONGREGATED IN THE SPORTS STADIUM AT ENUGU, CAPITAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA, THE NAME ASSUMED BY THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN REGION OF NIGERIA, TO OFFER PRAYERS LAST SUNDAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW STATE.

THE MASS PRAYER MEETING WAS ORGANISED BY BOTH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS. ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP J.C. ANYOGU MADE THE ADDRESS AND BISHOP L.M.UZODIKE LED THE PRAYERS, WHICH ASKED FOR A BLESSING ON BIAFRA.

SIR FRANCIS IBIAM, ADVISER TO THE FORMER EASTERN REGION MILITARY GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ODUMEGWU OJUKWU, WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING.

A COLLECTION TAKEN AT THE MEETING WAS DONATED TO CIVIL DEFENCE FUNDS. A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING TOOK PLACE, AND ONLY 150 MILES AWAY (240 KMS) AN ATTEMPTED INVASION BY NIGERIAN FEDERAL TROOPS WAS REPULSED BY EASTERN REGION DEFENDERS.