Police disrupt peaceful march, arrest 17 MASSOB members in Imo

No fewer than 17 members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB have been arrested in Owerri, Imo state capital for holding a road show in commemoration of the 49th anniversary of Biafra.

The MASSOB members reportedly began the march on Monday at Waterside Primary School in the state capital from where they moved to Rotibi Street to Oguamana Street before linking Douglas Road.

At Douglas Road, they met heavily armed security men who reportedly threw teargas at them at Ama JK end of the street and arrested some.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the arrests to newsmen, said those arrested would be prosecuted.

The spokesman for MASSOB in Owerri zone, Chief Canice Anojuru said the group decided to hold the road show to awaken the consciousness of the people of the defunct Biafra.
Anojuru said the road show was to draw the attention of international community to the plight of Biafra people, adding that the group had achieved a lot despite obvious challenges.

A leader of MASSOB, Mr Okechukwu Nwogu, following the arrest, called on Igbo leaders to come out and speak for Igbo people being unjustly treated by security forces.

He said it was regrettable that the police arrested members of the group who were on a peaceful march to commemorate the 49th anniversary of Biafra and 17th anniversary of MASSOB.

Nwogu said, “What Nigeria government is doing to us is very unfair; MASSOB is a non-violent group moving without arms in remembrance of our history.”