The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) has stepped into the escalating dispute surrounding pro-Biafra activism, publicly defending Mike Arnold, a former mayor of Blanco, Texas, and founder of Africa Arise International, while warning US based activist Ngozi Orabueze and her associates to stop what the organisation describes as defamatory attacks against him and the legal team of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.

In a strongly worded statement dated October 3, 2026, AVID also affirmed what it described as the authenticity of a document known as the “Sokoto Declaration,” claiming that the document was co-authored by Arnold and Kanu and formally verified and released through Kanu’s special counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor.

The intervention places AVID directly in a widening public dispute involving competing pro-Biafra voices, allegations over the authenticity and purpose of political documents, and disagreements over who legitimately represents the interests of the Biafran cause.

Orabueze, a US-based pro-Biafra separatist activist, has been associated with the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE)/United States of Biafra movement linked to Simon Ekpa.

AVID Defends Mike Arnold

The veterans' organisation said it was responding to what it characterised as “unprovoked, malicious, and misguided social media attacks” targeting Arnold, Kanu’s lawyers and members of Kanu’s family.

The statement was signed by AVID President Dr Sylvester Onyia and Secretary Dr Godson Obiagwu.

“As a body composed of men and women who have honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States and who remain deeply committed to truth, justice, and the fundamental rights of the Igbo people and Nigerian Christians, AVID stands firmly to set the record straight,” the organisation said.

AVID described Arnold as a longstanding international ally of the Biafran cause and accused his critics of attempting to undermine individuals supporting the cause from outside Nigeria.

“Attack on Mike Arnold is an attack on the strategic allies standing with our people on the global stage,” the organisation said.

Veterans Back ‘Sokoto Declaration’

One of the most significant claims in the statement concerns the disputed “Sokoto Declaration.”

AVID said it “unequivocally confirms the authenticity” of the document and maintained that it was co-authored by Arnold and Kanu.

According to the organisation, the document was formally verified, authenticated and released through Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

“AVID was fully aware of the processes surrounding this document prior to its release,” the group said.

AVID characterised the declaration as a “strategic, lawful framework” intended to advance human rights, self-determination and the protection of oppressed populations.

The assertion is significant because questions surrounding the provenance, authorship and political meaning of documents associated with the Biafra movement have increasingly become part of disputes among activists and their supporters.

Cease and Desist Demand

AVID subsequently issued a direct cease and desist warning to Orabueze and her associates.

The group demanded an immediate end to what it described as defamatory publications, targeted attacks and hostile social-media campaigns against Arnold.

It also condemned what it called a broader “campaign of vilification” against Ejimakor, Kanu’s legal team and members of Kanu’s family.

“The campaign of vilification against Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu's legal team, and his family is counterproductive, divisive, and unacceptable,” AVID said.

The organisation did not merely frame the dispute as an online disagreement. It warned that continued attacks could result in legal action.

Dispute Over Claims of Political Authority

AVID also challenged Orabueze’s reported use of the title “Deputy Prime Minister” and her representation of what the organisation described as a “non-existent, illegitimate ‘Biafra Government in Exile.’”

The veterans further called on her to stop promoting what they described as the “phantom ‘Biafran Referendum’ allegedly conducted in Finland.”

AVID characterised the referendum as fraudulent and argued that it lacked international recognition, legal standing and democratic legitimacy.

Those claims represent AVID’s position and were not independently established in the statement.

‘Further Harassment’ Could Trigger Legal Action

AVID said disagreements within the wider self-determination movement should not descend into personal attacks against individuals it considers legitimate allies.

“The struggle for self-determination and human rights is built on truth, sacrifice, and strategic alliances, not on internet delusions, fraudulent declarations, or the harassment of genuine international allies,” the organisation said.

It warned Orabueze and her associates that further alleged harassment or defamation involving Arnold, Ejimakor or individuals associated with Kanu could prompt legal action.

“Ngozi Orabueze and her cohorts are therefore advised to govern themselves accordingly,” AVID said.

“Further harassment or defamation targeted at Mike Arnold, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, or Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's circle will be met with all lawful actions necessary to defend our allies and protect the integrity of our struggle.”

A Growing Rift Within the Pro-Biafra Camp

AVID’s intervention adds another layer to an increasingly public dispute within the broader pro-Biafra movement, where disagreements over leadership, political strategy, international representation and the legitimacy of competing initiatives have generated fierce exchanges online.

At the centre of the latest confrontation are questions that extend beyond social-media rhetoric: who has the authority to speak for particular Biafra-related initiatives, which documents can be independently authenticated, and whether competing factions can pursue self-determination objectives without undermining one another.

For now, AVID has made its position clear: it stands behind Arnold and Kanu’s legal representatives and is demanding that Orabueze and her associates halt what it considers defamatory and hostile activities.

The warning also signals that the dispute could move beyond social media and into the courts if the parties fail to resolve their differences.