Police arraign 62 MASSOB members over alleged breach of the peace, others
FOR alleged conspiracy, belonging to unlawful organisation, conduct likely to cause breach of peace; in possession of outlawed materials and insignia, chanting war songs and other acts in a tumultuous manner, police in Owerri, Imo State capital yesterday, arraigned 62 out of 68 suspected members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
According to the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Austin Evbakhavbakun, they MASSOB members were taken to an Owerri Magistrate court on Monday.
The CP, who briefed journalists in his office in Owerri, said 68 members of the outlawed group were arrested by his officers and men along Port Harcourt /Owerri Federal Highway on Saturday, May 30, 2015, while they were allegedly engaged in the acts mentioned above, adding that the leader of the movement, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, from investigations they conducted, was not associated with the group they arrested. Things found with the suspects included Biafran Army uniforms, Biafran identity cards, Biafran flags and some buses.
He said: “On Saturday 30/05/2015, members of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) stormed Owerri, Imo State from all directions in buses to celebrate Biafra Day and remembrance of their Fallen Heroes.
“The group, without previous notice to the police command was clad in MASSOB/Biafra uniforms in which they marched along the Port Harcourt /Owerri Federal Highway, chanting war songs in such a manner as to cause breach of peace.
They were dispersed by the State Police Command and in the process, 68 suspected MASSOB members were arrested. Sixty two of them have been charged to court this morning for conspiracy, belonging to unlawful society and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.”
Continuing, he said: “MASSOB Chief, Uwazurike was not associated with this group. I don’t know if it is faction of MASSOB.
According to him, the arrest was carried out with minimum force and without casualties.
Commenting further, he said: “Before you engage in any such protest, you apply to the CP. We have one nation. Their act was subversive. No security agency can close its eyes on such an occurrence. We are here to protect the
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5 Comments
Kudos to police gallantry against MASSOB! They will now be posted to Sambisa forest to rescue the missing Chiboki girls.
In civilized society, what these folks who call themselves MASSOB should do is to set up a political party and then win seats in their states and then campaign to have a referendum of their people – all these done peacefully – the way they are going about it is just constituting themselves into anarchists – this is self-defeating and not respecting of Ndigbo and the proud people of the area they claim they want to be a sovereign state. The question always remain, even for academic reasons that they should start with a map of the proposed geographical area of the so-called biafra of their dream…Just making noise and lording themselves over the masses and wearing military uniforms (like african rebel forces of old) is never the way to any good in this day and age – so the question remain which man of substance from Ndigbo is with them, none – all are rather stakeholders in the Nigerian enterprise…this goes for their copy cat anarchists in the Niger Delta. And they drfit here & there, when they see a President that would allow their corruption, like Jonathan did, they are happy – when they see one that would not, they start to throw immature tantrums. Police has responsibility to enforce the law of the land and they did the right thing by stopping this foolishness, and there are enough materials – actions, statements – that could be used to charge them to courts of the right jurisdiction.
What are you talking about; Biafra has already received recognition from the African Union, and the United Nations.
All these people were doing, is walking down a street with Biafra clothing on, nothing more, nothing less.
You are the foolish person and does not see violation of human right in the police act.
Release those innocent people please.They have right to celebrate the anniversary of Biafra. UN has recognized and given observer status to Biafra.Concentrate on bokoharam if you are very strong and Nigerians will be glad you did
We will review and take appropriate action.