Delta Police Arrest 22 MASSOB Members

PHOTO: THE BIAFRAN FLAG

Asaba March 12, (THEWILL) - About 22 members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) including an 11 year old boy and a 68 year-old-woman, Madam Adanne Otefa have been arrested in Asaba by the Delta State Police Command.

MASSOB is a radical group from eastern Nigeria who want a sovereign state for the Igbo nation.

Members of the group were arrested on Wednesday, 10, March, 2010 while they were travelling to a camp at Omerigbone in Asaba to protest against the slaughter of Igbos and southerners in Jos, Plateau State and the release of MASSOB founder and leader, Ralph Uwazurike, who is being held by the Nigerian Police.

The group whose members carried placards with inscriptions like, "Stop killing our people in the north"; "Free Uwazuike our leader, he is a freedom fighter"; "We are Biafrans"; and "We have our currency and coat of arm", travelled from different eastern states.

Investigations revealed that there was a similar protest in Onitsha, Anambra State but police were on hand to ensure the protest was violence-free.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Mr. Simeon Midenda said the members would be charged to court for inciting disturbances and belonging to a proscribed group.