From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka

Apparently to beat the October 1 Arewa youth quit notice to Igbo in North, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has declared August a month of mass return for Igbo living in the northern parts of Nigeria.

Consequently, it has asked Igbo, especially women, to persuade their loved ones (husbands and children) to come home to avert ugly consequences.

In a statement signed by MASSOB National Director of Information, Samuel Edesonu and made available to newsmen in Awka, the group said it took the decision at its national executive meeting presided over by the leader, Uchenna Madu.

August, according to the statement was chosen because of its significance in Igbo calendar as the period for new yam festival and women’s August meeting.

MASSOB also asked Igbo leaders (Eze Ndigbo) in the 19 northern states to commence census of Igbo in their states by compiling names, residential addresses and villages/towns of all Igbo living in their respective northern cities where they lead and end the data collation on September 10, 2017. 

Related News

“MASSOB, after our national executive meeting that was presided by our leader, Uchenna Madu resolved as follows: That in continuation of our earlier stand and position on the quit notice order to the people of Biafra by Arewa people which will elapse on October 1st, MASSOB insists and beckons on Biafrans living in Arewaland to intensify efforts in relocating their families back home.

“MASSOB has resolved that the month of August, being a significant month of special festivals of Iri ji (new yam) and Women August meeting in Igboland, it has declared this month of August 2017, a special month of mass return for all Igbo living in Northern Nigeria.

“MASSOB also mandated all married Igbo women living in Northern Nigeria to start intimating their husbands about the dangers of staying in Arewaland, which no longer guaranteed their safety. They should also intensify their pressure on their husbands concerning the mass return next month.

“That after the September 10 deadline for the compilation, MASSOB will embark on investigation of all the Eze Ndigbo in Northern cities to ascertain their levels of participation in this ancestral order.

“We urge Eze Ndigbo in Northern cities to carry out the compilation of our kinsmen resident  in the area. We appeal to them not to betray this act of nobility because of individual interest or favour. 

“MASSOB, under the leadership of Madu will continue undeterred in its non-violence approach to actualise  Biafra.”