125 Arrested As MASSOB Marks 19th Anniversary In Anambra
No fewer than 125 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were yesterday arrested while many
others sustained injury during a rally to mark the 19th anniversary
celebration of the organization in Anambra.
Security personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, Directorate of
Security Services and Civil Defense stormed the venue of the rally at
Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state at about
12noon to effect the arrest.
Although, no death was recorded, Chief Arinze Igbani, Biafra Elder
Council claimed in an interview with newsmen that many of his members
sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of alleged assault
and subsequent arrest by the security operatives.
According to him, three bus-load of MASSOB members including Gen.
Innocent Ejioforbiri, the General of Biafra veterans, Anambra South
zone and other Biafra war veterans some of whom are octogenarians were
ceased by the security operatives while returning home from similar
celebrations at Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
He also claimed that two other buses were destroyed by the security
operatives during the raid.
“Today, Anambra state and the Federal Government collaborated to
molest Ndigbo who came out to celebrate non-violently, the 19th
anniversary of MASSOB
“This is in spite of the fact that MASSOB/BIM gave huge support for
the conduct of governorship elections in the state as against the
positions of some elements in 2017.
“The MASSOB/BIM are giving the Federal Government and the state
Government one week to unconditionally release innocent people who
came out to celebrate peacefully. If government fail to release them
unconditionally within one week, we will organize heavy protest that
will shut down the state.
“There is no place in the law anywhere in the world that states that
people should not celebrate,” he said.
He urged members of the organization to remain calm and peaceful while
they await the response of government to its demand.
He also urged the international communities to come to its rescue and
support its call for the realization of Biafra.
It could be recalled that MASSOB was inaugurated by Chief Ralph
Uwazuruike on Sept. 13, 1999 to further press home the demand for the
actualization of Biafra.
