…Alleges arrest of 50 members by police
From: Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
Members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), on Monday, marched along major roads and cities across the Ebonyi State especially the state capital, Abakaliki amidst heavy police presence.
The group also alleged that no fewer than 50 of their members of Movement for Actualisation of were yesterday arrested by the police during the group’s rally in Abakaliki to commemorate what it called ‘new Biafra’.
The alleged that the pro-Biafra agitators were arrested on their from Ohaukwu and Onueke to join the rally in the state capital.
MASSOB/BIM leader in the state, John Nwifuru said the group were guarded by a team of policemen to ensure it was not high jacked by hoodlums. He assured that those arrested by the police will be released as according to him, he has spoken with police authority on the matter.
“Our rally was very successful and we don’t have any problem despite mobile policemen that disturbed early the morning when we were converging for the rally. They arrested about eleven Biafra security boys at Ohaukwu, them about 16 in Nkwegu and others.
“I have discussed with the CP and he assured me that those arrested will be released immediately and I want to thank him for supporting our event because policemen marched with us, wherever we reached, they reached with us to ensure that we have no problem with anybody and we conducted ourselves orderly.
“We did not cause any traffic jam and everything went successful. 15,000 of our members participated in the rally. We marched from Spera-in-Deo junction to Presco junction to Ahia Ofu junction and old timer shade and we dismissed because of the elderly ones who were getting tired. We are commemorating the new Biafra which Uwazuruike declared on 22nd May, 1999 and the celebration continues till 30th of this month when we will end it with football match”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Uchenna Madu led MASSOB group has disassociated itself from the rally.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki, by the National Secretary of the group Comrade Ugwuoke Ibem, MASSOB said “the people on the streets today displaying the Biafra flag are not MASSOB members as they may claim, they are members of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) observing their own Biafra day.
“MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu will observed the 50th anniversary of declaration of Biafra by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu on 30th May,2017 with a sit at home exercise in honor and remembrance of Biafra gallant soldiers and civilians that laid down their lives for the establishment of the Republic of Biafra during the genocidal war against the people of Biafra in 1967–1970.