The Nigerian Navy, Cen­tral Naval Command (CNC) has denied the killing of some members of the Movement for the Actual­ization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by their operatives in Anambra State.
The operational area of the CNC with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State covers Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Anambra and Kogi states.
The Flag Officer Com­manding (FOC) CNC, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, who debunked reports of the killings while briefing newsmen at the  command headquarters yester­day, said it became necessary for him to personally clear the air on the rumoured killings, which he described as untrue.
There had been reports of a clash between Naval personnel and MASSOB members, dur­ing which some people were allegedly killed.
Ogoigbe said the Navy per­sonnel only shot into the air to disperse a large number of MASSOB members who were on a protest march towards the Onitsha head bridge, noting that some protesting youths had already overrun the policemen on duty at the foot of the bridge.
He said: “No such act was ever committed. The MAS­SOB group was on a protest march. They overran the po­licemen that were on duty, and were coming towards the Navy personnel. As they approached, the Navy fired warning shots into the air to scare them away, and they all scampered. No­body died in the process.
To our surprise, MASSOB started claiming that Navy per­sonnel killed two of their men. I don’t know what they wish to achieve with this propaganda and fabricating stories against the Navy.
“We just want all well-meaning Nigerians to know that no MASSOB member was killed in that area of Anambra State, where the Navy was keeping peace and carrying out their legitimate duties. It was not only Navy that was there, the police and other security agencies were also there, and they all confirmed that nobody was killed. I don’t know where MASSOB manufactured their story. That is why I am taking the responsibility to clear the air to avoid an unwarranted tension.”
The Commanding Officer, Naval Outpost, Onitsha Navy Capt. Dika Kwabe who cor­roborated Ogoigbe’s remarks said there was no proof in the claim by MASSOB that the Navy killed her members.