Biafran separatism: MASSOB dissociates self from Onitsha violence

(ABAKALIKI)
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State
of Biafra (MASSOB) has dissociated itself from the last
violence that erupted in the commercial city of Onitsha
following agitation by a pro-Biafra group.
This comes on the heels of the arrest of seven persons
suspected to be members of the Pro-Biafran group by the
Ebonyi state police command for engaging in protests in
front of the state government house.
In a statement signed by Gideon Iloke, John Nwifuru and
Sunday Ezaka, the three zonal leaders of MASSOB in
Ebonyi state, the group denied involvement in any violent
protest in the cause of the struggle for the actualization of
a Biafra state.
The MASSOB leaders also denied the seven persons
arrested by the Ebonyi state police command in
connection to the protest and a breach of public peace
were associated the group, adding that MASSOB under
Chief Ralph Uwazuuruike has remained a non violent
group concerned with Igbo separatism.
According to Mr. Iloke, the MASSOB leader in charge of
Ebonyi central zone, MASSOB is not against any group’s
agitation for the actualization of a Biafra state but will not
allow its name to be dragged to the mud by a group of
miscreants using MASSOB’s name to commit all sorts of
crimes.
He distanced MASSOB from recent protests by members
of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in which many
lives were lost, adding that they still maintain a non violent
stance to realizing their goal, and called on those using
MASSOB’s name to commit crimes to desist from it.
John Nwifuru, in charge of Ebonyi North, also denied that
the seven persons arrested by the police for protesting at
the government house gate were not members of
MASSOB and should not be addressed as such and urged
the police to carry out proper investigations about them
and their mission.
He said MASSOB does not discriminate against any tribe
in the country, adding that those who attacked Muslims or
Hausa or Yoruba traders were not members of the
movement.
They unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the
leader of MASSOB, Chief Rlaph Uwazuruike, describing
him as a man who has the capacity to pilot the affairs of
the Biafra movement without spilling innocent blood.
(Emmanuel Uzor , DAILY SUN )