Angry reactions trail Police, MASSOB clash

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, OWERRI.

Angry reactions have continued to trail what Imo people called “the senseless and unnecessary confrontation between the police and loyalists of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, in Owerri”.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, confirmed that 300 loyalists of MASSOB were arrested during the operation.

Maishanu insisted that there was no loss of life during the police/MASSOB clash but however affirmed that some people sustained some injuries but refused to name the hospital where the policemen who were allegedly wounded in the fracas were being treated.

The citizens, who were paraded in the State Police Headquarters, Owerri, were in very high spirit and chanted Biafran solidarity songs even when they were being moved away, Monday evening,  in police trucks to an undisclosed detention camp.

Reacting to the ugly incident, the MASSOB Director of Information in Anambra State, Mr. Charles Ndukuba, who was equally arrested, said his organization has over the years remained non-violent and non-confrontational in their approach to actualizing their dream Biafran nation.

“MASSOB is not noted for violence. We are non-confrontational. We are law abiding. We are surprised that because of the hatred Nigeria’s security personnel have for MASSOB, the police attacked us”, Ndukuba recounted.

According to the MASSOB chieftain, they were in Owerri to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the declaration of the state of Biafra pointing out that their celebration was well publicized and received the blessing of the protagonist, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

He described the stories told by the police as “a tissue of lie and mere fabrication”, stressing that “as at the time of the interview, we had been detained for over five hours”.

Answering a question, Ndukuba said “Biafra is being floated for the survival of Ndigbo”, adding that their quest for freedom was irrevocable.