MASSOB issues IGP 48hrs to release Biafra agitators

The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) yesterday issued a 48-hour ultimatum on the Inspector-General of Police ( IGP) Ibrahim Idris Kpotum to release those unlawfully arrested and detained in the South East and South South geo-political zone during May 22, birthday of Biafra, without delay.

The MASSOB/BIM warned vehemently against police intimidation, harassment, arrest, detention and further killing of Biafran agitators.

Members of the elders’ council of the MASSOB/BIM, Elders Joseph Odigbo and Emeka Okafor, representing Delta South and North respectively in Asaba, Delta State also said that they were not in support of the sit-at-home order from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

According to the elders council, “for the Commissioner of Police in Delta state, Zanna M. Ibrahim, especially, to have ordered his men to fire tear gas on non-violent agitators, arrest and detain them and they did not react violently, should have sent a serious message to him. We will no longer fold our alms and watch security agents clamping down on us unjustifiably and thereby tarnishing the image of the group. Enough is enough. If the IGP will not release them, he should resign within two days.”

Supported by their Delta North Coordinator, Chief Chinedu Amaifeobu, and the Zonal Commander of Security, Ignatius Adili-Ajana, wondered why the mix-up when history has bestowed the leadership on Uwazuruike after Ojukwu’s demise.
Adili-Ajana lambasted the police for mistaking Biafran agitators for kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, Boko Haram terrorists and Fulani herdsmen, currently killing hundreds of people in the North, which he said “is the manifestation of the hatred the Federal Government of Nigeria has for the Igbo race since the civil
war.”

They maintained that the defunct late Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu January 1, 1970 for the celebration has changed to May 22, 2000 since Chief Ralph Uwazuruike succeeded Ojukwu.

The elders said the insistence of their sister group on the defunct May 30 celebration was a deliberate attempt to steal the show, manoeuvre and overthrown whom they met on ground. While he said although the line-up programme for May 22 Biafran Day celebration ends today, it did not suggest in any way that May 30 was still the
birthday. He urged adherents of the Biafran sister group to embrace succession history instead of scheming to usurp leadership of agitation.