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