The Ohanaze (also Ohanaeze or Oha Na Eze) Ndigbo is described as "the umbrella organization of the Igbo people [Ndigbo] in Nigeria and in diaspora" (The Guardian14 Feb. 2001; ibid. 20 Feb. 2001). Ohaneze Ndigbo reportedly has its secretariat offices at No. 7 Park Avenue, Enugu, Nigeria; its national secretary is Prof. Ben Nwabueze and its administrative secretary is Ani Odunze (ibid. 20 Feb. 2001). One source spells the national secretary's name "Ben Nnabueze" (Post Express 14 June 2000). The 80-year old "non-partisan" politician, journalist and activist, Chief Melie Chukelu Kafundu Ajuluchukwu, is described as a leading member of the organization (The Guardian 17 Feb. 2001).

In 1998 Ohaneze Ndigbo was reportedly commended by the Administrator of Anambra State for sharing the "same goals of promoting national unity and development and conflict resolution and mobilisation" as the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) (Post Express 13 Jan. 1998).

In early 2000 the Ohaneze Ndigbo "met with the president...calling for confederacy as a way of righting the wrongs meted out to the Igbo people" (ibid. 4 Apr. 2000). In mid 2000 Moslem leaders meeting in Enugu declared their support for Ohaneze Ndigbo "in matters affecting and concerning the interest of the Igbos especially as it concerned Sharia" (ibid. 28 July 2000).

In June 2000 the group called for a "national conference of all ethnic nationalities" (ibid. 20 June 2000), and on 19 February 2001 it held its first "summit of Igbo leaders" in Enugu which "raised a lot of fundamental issues and questions bordering on the collective existence of Ndigbo in Nigeria" (The Guardian 19 Feb. 2001). Earlier in the month, the Ohaneze Ndigbo had condemned the use of violence against members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) as well as its support for the stand taken by a group of governors in this regard; MASSOB is described as a peaceful organization, in opposition to the violent means of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other "Sharia protagonists" (ibid. 14 Feb. 2001).

The most detailed report available on violence that occurred on 14 July 2000 at the Alaba Market states that "no fewer than seven people including a policeman were feared dead in a riot between traders at the popular Alaba International Market in the Ojo area of Lagos and a group suspected to be members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)" (The Comet 15 July 2000). The report adds:

The riot was reportedly triggered by the alleged murder of a man said to have earlier bought some items in the market but claimed to have been a robber by a landlord in the vicinity. Narrating how the riot began, an official of the Alaba International Market Association, Mr. Charles Duru, claimed the customer had told the trader from whom he bought the items that he would pick them shortly after having his bath at his friend's home nearby. Duru claimed that no sooner had he left than they were alerted that the customer had been killed by OPC members who were allegedly united by his friend's landlord who feared he was a robber

...Duru claimed that traders in the market soon stormed the scene and burnt the house, since they couldn't locate the landlord who had fled as soon as the OPC member struck. He added that the Igbo youths soon took over the streets, burning motorcycles and injuring their owners while the OPC members allegedly mounted road blocks on the busy Okomaiko- Shibiri Road screening motorists and passengers (ibid.).

A few days later, after ongoing clashes between police and members of the OPC in Lagos, Police Commissioner Mike Okiro "claimed that he was in receipt of security reports that the OPC overran the Alaba Market on the outskirts of the city where seven persons were killed at the weekend" (ibid. 18 July 2000). The report states that "thirty OPC members were said to be in detention and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters in Lagos" (ibid.), although it is not clear whether any or all of these were being held in relation to the Alaba Market violence or the violence that took place elsewhere in Lagos in the next days.

No references to involvement or a link between the violence at Alaba Market and the Ohaneze Ndigbo could be found among the sources consulted.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

The Comet [Lagos]. 18 July 2000. Dipo Kehinde, Andrews Bayagbon and Sam Popoola. "Three Killed as Police-OPC Clash Continues." http://www.cometnews.com.ng/18072000/nn38104.htm [Accessed 28 Feb. 2001]

_____. 15 July 2000. Boga Thomas. "Seven Feared Dead in Clashes at Lagos Market." http://www.cometnews.com.ng/15072000/nn37703.htm [Accessed 28 Feb. 2001]

The Guardian [Lagos]. 21 February 2001. Sunny Igboanugo. "Why South East Governors Turn Away From Obasanjo." http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/politics/pp813202.html [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 19 February 2001. Emeka Nwosu. "Revisiting the Igbo Summit." http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial2/en813006.html [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 17 Feburary 2001. Godwin Ijediogor. "I'm Still Militant at 803/4Ajuluchukwu." http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/life&style/ls812803.html [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 14 February 2001. Sunny Igboanugo. "Ohaneze Vows to Resist Violation of Igbo Rights." http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news2/nn812508.html [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

The Post-Express [Lagos]. 28 July 2000. Petrus Obi. "South-East Moslem Leaders Back Ohaneze Ndigbo." http://www.postexpresswired.com/> [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 20 June 2000. Buchy Enyinnaya. "Ohaneze Votes for National Confab." http://www.postexpresswired.com/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 14 June 2000. Chuks Ohuegbe. "Ohanaeze Scribe Told to Resign." http://www.postexpresswired.com/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 4 April 2000. Daniel Kanu. "Igbo in Diaspora Give Obasanjo Ultimatum." http://www.postexpresswired.com/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]

_____. 13 January 1998. "Anambra Administrator Promises to Assist Groups." http://www.postexpresswired.com/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 2001]