PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMP; PRISONERS RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION; CHURCH SERVICE.




Initials JSU/V/CCT/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MAJOR-GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON, NIGERIA'S FEDERAL MILITARY COMMANDER, HAS APPEALED TO EASTERN NIGERIANS TO DISOWN BREAKAWAY BIAFRAN LEADER LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ODUMEGWU OJUKWU AND HIS "REBEL COLLABORATORS" TO PREVENT FURTHER KILLING.

BUT EVEN AS HIS TROOPS SPREAD DEEPER INTO THE SECESSIONIST TERRITORY THE PROBLEM OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR AND THEIR WELFARE BECOMES MORE ACUTE.

A CAMP FOR BIAFRAN PRISONERS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT MAKURDI CLOSE TO THE BORDER BETWEEN THE FEDERATION AND BIAFRA. OUR CAMERAMAN VISITED THE CAMP ON SUNDAY (16 JULY).

IN HIS STATEMENT GENERAL GOWON PROMISED THAT THE EAST'S NINE MILLION IBOS WOULD BE GIVEN FULL EQUALITY IN A NEW 12-STATE STRUCTURE. THEIR SECESSION STEMMED FROM NORTHERN DOMINATION, HE SAID.

"THE FIGHT IS NOT AGAINST THE IBOS AS A PEOPLE. IT IS AGAINST OJUKWU'S PERSONAL AMBITION," GENERAL GOWON SAID.

MEANWHILE FEDERAL FORCES WERE REPORTED TO BE BATTLING BREAKAWAY TROOPS AS FAR AS ABAKALIKI, 40 MILES (64 KMS) SOUTHEAST OF ENUGU, WHERE THOUSANDS OF ARMED BIAFRAN YOUTHS ARE GATHERING TO MAKE A STAND.

CARRYING GUNS, KNIVES AND OTHER WEAPONS, YOUTHS AND CIVIL DEFENCE VOLUNTEERS WERE ARRIVING IN PACKED TRUCKS FROM PORT HARCOURT, ONITSHA AND OTHER EASTERN CITIES, TO HELP DEFEND THE CAPITAL.