FORGET #BIAFRA, ACF TELL IPOB, MASSOB

                                          
The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, on Sunday asked the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra
to jettison their current agitation for the Republic of Biafra.
The forum cautioned the agitators against dragging the country into another “bout of Civil War.”
The issue of Biafra, according to the northern body, had been settled 45 years ago after the brutal Civil War in which over two million Nigerians died.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammadu Ibrahim, in a statement in Kaduna noted that it was most sad and unfortunate that 45 years after Nigerians ended the war and resolved to unite for the nation’s progress, “some people are instigating innocent youths to stage irresponsible protest.”
The forum called on Igbo youths and all Nigerians to channel their energy into useful venture rather than allow themselves to be used for futile agitation.
The statement read in part, “The meeting noted with serious concern the continued spate of protests by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra in the South-East and South-South states agitating for a Biafra Republic. The issue of Biafra was settled in 1970 after the Civil War.
“It is therefore sad and unfortunate that 45 years after, when Nigerians are now united in a democratic system of governance, some elements are now busy instigating innocent youths in the south-eastern states to an irresponsible protest, which in most cases have degenerated into violence with serious consequences on the lives and property of innocent and law-abiding Nigerians.
“ACF once more calls upon the Igbo youth and indeed other Nigerians to channel their energy, resources, talent and time into useful ventures that will promote unity and development rather than allow themselves to be used for such a futile agitation.”
The forum also commended the intervention of some elder statesmen from the North and South in dousing the tension created by the “unwarranted protest.”
“ACF also commends the efforts of some governors, traditional rulers and elder statesmen both from the North and the South for their intervention to douse the tension created by this unwarranteed protest that could have some ripple effects in other parts of the country,” it added.
The forum also expressed concern on the alarming rate of kidnapping of innocent persons for ransom by some unknown gunmen in various parts of the country and urged the security agencies to redouble their efforts in arresting the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice.

MASSOB, IPOB React Burning of Onitsha Mosque was carried by agents of Fed Govt to provoke violence

                                     
ENUGU – Following ground swell protests at Ontisha, Anambra State and other states of the south-east geopolitical zone staged by members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State
of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, last Tuesday, calling on the Federal Government to release their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the two pro-Biafra groups, Wednesday, disassociated selves from acts of arson and violence that culminated in the razing down of Onitsha Central Mosque and burning of some vehicles.

This came as the Inspector General of Police,Solomon Arase, warned that the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, will henceforth, arrest and prosecute persons found to be engaged in the breakdown of law and order by way of protests,especially in the old eastern region.

It would recalled that over 40,000 members and sympathizers of MASSOB and IPOB, had last Tuesday,shut down commercial and business activities in the south-east geopolitical zone in an avowed stance for the creation of the sovereign State of Biafra hinged on perceived injustice,marginalization and neglect meted to the people of the region.

In a statement made available to newsmen by MASSOB Acting Leader, Uchenna Madu which reads in part,”the setting of Ontisha Central Mosque,vehicles ablaze and making of burning fires which depicts violence are not done by the members of IPOB or MASSOB under my leadership.

“This unwarranted acts of violence are perfected by hoodlums sponsored by agents of the Federal Government to create impression that non violence and peaceful pro-Biafra group have turned violent on our agitation for Biafra. Our oppressors are no longer comfortable. There is no evidence of terrorism in our protest. How can we now resort to violence now that we’re told that the presidency is about negotiating with leaders of pro-Biafra group?

“With today’s killing of our members and injuring many with bullet shots,we are no longer comfortable with the presidency’s move for dialogue. Federal Government move for dialogue is hypocritical and deceitful. Any Igbo group,organization and persons negotiating,meeting or dialoguing with the presidency on our behalf without our consent or mandate should stop now.

“MASSOB led by Uchenna Madu and IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu have never mandated any person to negotiate for us. Even in this persecution,arrest,killings,clampdown,suppression against us by Nigeria Government,we shall continue and intensify our non violence agitation for Biafra. For Nigeria to release their Armed Forces against non violence,defenseless Biafra agitators shows their wickedness and the devilish mind of President Muhammad Buhari against our people.

MASSOB has gone into hiding in Onitsha, says Police boss

                 
THE Police Area Com­mander in Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr. Philip Ezekiel an As­sistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) yesterday said that the command has finally clamped down on the members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who have gone into hiding in the state.


He said since the Com­missioner of Police in the state, Mr. Hosea Karma banned the activities of MASSOB in the state, nobody had come out to claim that he was a member of MASSOB or gather in the name of the group.

ACP Ezekiel, in a chat with newsmen in Onti­sha said police would deal decisively with any MASSOB member ar­rested, stressing that the activities of the group was illegal and against the law of the country and would not hesitate to prosecute anyone ar­rested, claiming to be a member of MASSOB.

He, however, urged the members of the public to always inform the po­lice about the activities of MASSOB members in the area to ensure that they do not take laws into their hands.

“MASSOB members have gone into hiding since CP banned their activities in the state. Anybody arrested parad­ing himself as MASSOB member should be ar­rested and prosecuted ac­cording to the law of the country.

MASSOB is an illegal group which is not recog­nised by the constitution of the country, members of the public should al­ways inform the police about the activities of the group in order to stop the lawlessness of the group in the state.”

On security arrange­ment on the Indepen­dence celebration, Eze­kiel said that adequate security arrangements had been made to en­sure hitch free celebra­tion, saying that police­men have been deployed while the police patrol team with vehicles were on ground moving at strategic places to main­tain peace and order dur­ing and after the celebra­tion.

He also noted that red alert had been given to policemen to ensure that lives and property were protected during the cel­ebration, adding that no adverse report had been received from any part of the divisions under his command.

The ACP further stated that there was hitch-free Sallah celebration in the state, saying that there was no report of casualty during and after the cel­ebration, describing this year’s celebration as the most peaceful

MASSOB uncovers plot to kill members

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) says it has uncovered plans by security operatives, especially the police, to embark on extra-judicial killing of its members since the members are always granted bail whenever they are taken to court.

Meanwhile, 48 members of the group arrested during the last week Sunday’s Celebration of the 16th Anniversary of the existence of MASSOB have been granted bail by an Umuahia court.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, the Anambra North Coordinator of MASSOB, Emmanuel Omenka, said the plot to eliminate their members on arrest became clear immediately after the release of 48 members arrested during the celebration of 16th anniversary of the existence of the movement.

According to Omenka who is also the Personal Assistance to MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, “The security operatives particularly the Nigerian Police and their DSS counterparts were annoyed that the Umuahia court granted bail to the 48 detained members and now plan to kill us in the night or any time they arrest our members since the court has disappointed them by not jailing those arrested during the celebration of our 16 years of existence.”

The Anambra North Coordinator who was flanked by his Director of Information, Charles Igbokwe, revealed that out of the 48 released members, 42 were arrested from Anambra state while six were from Imo State.

 “We are still looking for the where-about of one member, Christopher Nwafor who was wearing MASSOB uniform during the celebration that day, the police should tell us his where-about, we fear that police has killed him if not they should tell us where he is.”

In a swift reaction to the arrest and purported constant

Killing of MASSOB members, a factional MASSOB group that claimed to be the authentic MASSOB led by former Director of Information to MASSOB under Chief Ralph Uwazuruike before they fell out, Mr. Uchenna Madu accused Chief Uwazuruike of sacrificing his members for selfish reasons.

Madu who is spokesman of his group, said: “Our faction sympathises with the brainwashed and hypnotised members of Uwazuruike faction who stupidly died and or were detained on the occasion of celebrating the 16 years anniversary and after police invasion of Uwazuruike’s residence.”