MASSOB Members Arrested Over Breach Of The Peace

Imo state police have arrested sixty-eight members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) for alleged unlawful assembly and procession.

Speaking with journalists, Austin Evbakhavbokun, the commissioner of police, disclosed that 62 out of the 68 arrested had been charged to court for conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Evbakhavbokun recalled that on May 30, Saturday, members of the MASSOB stormed Owerri, the state capital, in buses to celebrate Biafra day and remember of their fallen heroes without giving previous notice to the police.

“They were clad in MASSOB/Biafra uniforms with insignia such as Biafra/MASSOB flags, marched towards the Port Harcourt/Owerri federal highways, chanting war songs in such a tumultuous manner as to cause breach of the peace but were later dispersed by the state police command,” he added.

The commissioner of police, who listed the 62 names, added that exhibits recovered from the suspects included Biafran uniforms, identity cards, flags and some buses. He further regretted that most of those involved in the act never knew when and how the civil war was fought in the country.

Evbakhavbokun called on parents and guardians to always keep an eye on their children and wards to discourage them from acts and behaviour capable of jeopardising peace and security in the country.

“We have just one country called Nigeria and as such cannot have two flags for the same country and those arrested would be made to face the full weight of the law to serve as a deterrent to others because the law says that any procession without police approval is illegal, null and void and therefore of no effect.

“It is the responsibility of the citizenry to ensure the continued corporate existence of the country, hence such movement as MASSOB cannot be tolerated,” he stressed.

A few weeks ago Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the MASSOB, claimed that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari had perfected plans to arrest him. Worried members of the group issued a warning to Buharistressing that he had no constitutional power to arrest their leader.

The group also stated that it would continue to struggle for the realisation of Biafra, adding that no amount of threats would stop them.