Police Open Fire on MASSOB Members during Pro-Biafra Celebration – The 19th-anniversary celebration of the Chief Ralph Uwazuruike-led Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) otherwise called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) turned bloody on Wednesday when police opened fire on members of the movement.
FINANCIAL WATCH gathered the two members of the movement were reported killed while no fewer than 10 members of the movement were arrested and 15 sustained serious bullet wounds.
Addressing newsmen in Onitsha, Ogbaru Regional Administrator of BIM-MASSOB, Amadi Ifeanyi (aka Ochiagha), wonders why police would open fire on a non-violent organization.
He says: “We were hoisting our flag at about 2 am yesterday morning at Upper Iweka axis in preparation for the anniversary when the police stormed the place in three Hilux vans and allegedly opened fire on us at a close range, which resulted in the killing of the two members instantly.
“They arrested 10 of us and over 15 got bullet wounds, even when they knew that we are a non- violent organisation struggling for a Biafran state”.
Amadi, who spoke through his Director of Finance, in Ogbaru, Ezeaka Martins, identifies those killed as Innocent Okoye and Uche Ezinwanne, demanding the release of their corpses.
Also speaking, Chuks Nnaedozie, the Ogbaru Director of Security, gives the names of those injured and hospitalised as Clifford Nwankwo, Ndubuisi Ikpeazu Aloy Ibeh, and others yet to be identified.
On his part, Regional administrator for Onitsha North, Christian Umeaka discloses that one of his members had not been seen since he was arrested by the police when he went to hoist the flag.
“No amount of intimidation would stop us from struggling for a Biafran state,” he vows.