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Israeli Advisor Calls for Biafra Freedom, IPOB Hails Move

Published

2 months ago

August 17, 2026

Noga Arbel criticises British policy in Nigeria as separatist group welcomes Channel 14 broadcast

Israeli strategic advisor Noga Arbel, a former Israeli Foreign Ministry official, has called for Biafra freedom and criticised Britain over its historical and continuing relationship with Nigeria during a programme broadcast by Israel’s Channel 14 on August 14, 2026.

Also read: Biafra Veterans Back Nnamdi Kanu Amid IPOB Leadership Crisis

Arbel’s comments have drawn a strong reaction from the Indigenous People of Biafra, which described the broadcast as a significant development in its international campaign for an independent Biafra.

Speaking during the programme, Arbel claimed that Biafrans had recently contacted Israel and urged the Israeli government to engage Britain over its relationship with Nigeria.

“The Igbo tribe of Biafra contacted the state of Israel lately and this is a very big and exciting event,” Arbel said.

She further called on Israel to support Biafra’s cause and urged Britain to end what she characterised as support for Nigerian control over the region.

“Thank God that Britain left Israel long time ago, but what the British did and still doing in Nigeria is to subordinate Jews and Christians under the Islamic government control,” she said.

Arbel’s remarks included religious and political characterisations of Nigeria that are contested and were not independently substantiated in the material surrounding the broadcast.

She concluded by urging Israel to call on Britain to “stop supporting the Nigerian colonialism in Biafra”.

IPOB’s Israel-based representative, Rachel Nwosu, described the broadcast as a major moment for the separatist movement.

“Israel has spoken. The Jewish state, which knows the pain of subjugation, has now called on its government to stand with Biafra,” Nwosu said.

IPOB argued that the programme went beyond a discussion of Biafra and represented an appeal for direct Israeli diplomatic involvement.

The group described the development as “the single most significant breakthrough in Biafra’s diplomatic history”, while claiming that Channel 14’s discussion had given international visibility to its longstanding position on the Nigerian civil war and Biafra’s independence.

The broadcast came weeks after an IPOB delegation was received at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in July 2026.

The delegation was led by Mazi Chris Nwaogu, head of IPOB’s Directorate of State. The group said the delegation met Deputy Speaker Nissim Vaturi and Knesset Deputy Chairman Limor Son Har-Melech during its visit.

IPOB characterised the engagement as part of its peaceful international diplomatic campaign and said discussions included concerns over the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu has been held by Nigerian authorities since 2021 and was convicted on terrorism-related charges. He is currently serving a life sentence following his conviction.

The Israeli broadcast has nevertheless prompted IPOB to make broader claims about the political implications of its engagement with Israeli institutions.

The organisation said an independent Biafra could provide a homeland for what it described as persecuted Judeo-Christians in Nigeria and argued that the latest developments represented the beginning of a wider diplomatic campaign.

It also claimed that Channel 14’s coverage had effectively endorsed its description of Nigeria’s control over the South-East as “colonialism”.

However, the distinction between the comments of an individual advisor, a television programme and an official position of the Israeli government is important. Arbel’s remarks, as reported, do not by themselves establish a formal Israeli government policy recognising Biafra or supporting its independence.

Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains an established matter of state policy, while Biafra’s independence remains a separatist demand rather than a recognised sovereign claim.

The latest development nonetheless illustrates the increasingly international dimension of IPOB’s campaign, as the group continues to seek political and diplomatic attention outside Nigeria.

For Abuja, the comments are likely to attract scrutiny because they touch on Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the longstanding sensitivities surrounding Biafran separatism.

The debate also carries the weight of Nigeria’s history. Biafra declared independence from Nigeria in 1967, triggering a civil war that lasted until 1970 and resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis.

More than five decades later, demands for self-determination remain politically contentious, particularly in the South-East, where IPOB has continued to campaign for a separate Biafran state.

Also read: Soludo Urges Igbos to Reassess Marginalisation Claims Before Biafra Push

The Channel 14 broadcast therefore adds a notable international dimension to an issue that has remained deeply rooted in Nigeria’s domestic political and security landscape.

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Maresca Says Man City Unity Grows Amid Financial Case

Published

3 days ago

October 16, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Maresca says Man City unity grows amid the club’s financial case as the manager focuses on results ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Ipswich.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has said the club’s players, supporters and leadership have become more united amid the Premier League financial case, speaking at a pre-match press conference in Manchester on Friday, 16 October 2026, ahead of Saturday’s league meeting with Ipswich Town.

Also read: NPFL Suspends Fan Over Alleged Threats to Away Teams

Maresca said he was not personally troubled by the controversy, arguing that the team had little control over the proceedings and should concentrate on performances on the pitch.

“Since the noise, from my personal point of view, I can see the fans, the club, the team more together, for sure,” Maresca said.

His comments come as City continue their Premier League campaign under the scrutiny of a significant disciplinary case.

An independent commission found the club guilty of multiple breaches of the league’s financial regulations, following allegations concerning its financial reporting and commercial arrangements between 2009 and 2018.

Manchester City have rejected the findings and appealed the decision, maintaining that they have evidence to challenge the ruling. The appeal means the dispute remains unresolved, with the eventual outcome potentially carrying significant consequences for the club.

For now, Maresca has sought to keep the focus on football, presenting the team’s response to the controversy as a matter of discipline and collective responsibility rather than public argument.

“There is noise around the club but we need to try to make our noise,” he said. “That means win at Anfield, try to win tomorrow against Ipswich. This is the way we can make our noise. A different kind of noise; we’re not able to control that.”

City’s recent results have offered both encouragement and a reminder of the demands of competing across several fronts.

The club recorded a 3-0 Premier League victory over Liverpool at Anfield before suffering a 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Maresca described the European loss as a learning opportunity, saying City had struggled to maintain their balance after conceding twice in quick succession.

He nevertheless pointed to the response after half-time as evidence that the players could recover from difficult spells.

The defeat has added importance to Saturday’s meeting with Ipswich, as City look to maintain their domestic momentum while managing the demands of a busy schedule.

Asked how he was coping with the attention surrounding the financial proceedings, Maresca was direct.

“I’m very happy. I don’t feel any kind of stress about the outside situation because it’s something I don’t control. I just focus on how we can try to win the next games,” he said.

The manager also indicated that he trusted the club’s leadership and had discussed the case with officials. However, he preferred to wait for the legal process to reach an outcome before drawing conclusions about the matter.

The independent commission’s findings have intensified scrutiny of City’s financial conduct, with the case involving alleged breaches over a nine-season period.

The commission found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 charges relating to financial misconduct and associated failures to comply with the Premier League’s investigation, according to reports on the ruling.

City have appealed and continue to contest the findings. The distinction between the commission’s conclusions and the club’s position remains central to the ongoing dispute.

The case has also renewed debate about financial regulation in English football, including the effectiveness of oversight and the consequences clubs may face when they breach competition rules.

Any eventual sanctions will depend on the relevant proceedings and their outcome.

Against that background, Maresca’s emphasis on unity reflects the club’s immediate priority of sustaining results while the case progresses.

His comments do not resolve the questions raised by the commission, but they indicate how he intends to manage the situation within the dressing room.

Saturday’s fixture presents a further test. Ipswich have had a full week to prepare, while City return to domestic action after their midweek European commitment.

Maresca acknowledged that the difference in preparation time could make the contest demanding.

A victory would give City the opportunity to extend their Premier League winning run to seven matches, reinforcing their position near the top of the table.

The manager’s challenge is to ensure that the off-field controversy does not distract from the consistency required over a long season.

For supporters, the coming weeks will bring two parallel developments: City’s pursuit of domestic and European success, and the progress of the financial appeal.

The club’s results may shape the mood around the team, but the disciplinary proceedings will ultimately be determined by the relevant legal and regulatory process.

Maresca’s message was that City should concentrate on the part of the situation they can influence.

Also read: NPFL Suspends Fan Over Alleged Threats to Away Teams

With Ipswich next on the schedule, the immediate measure of that approach will be the team’s performance on the pitch, while the broader questions surrounding the club’s financial conduct remain outstanding.