SUPPORTERS of Biafra, under the aegis of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), yesterday shut down Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and also in Awka, Anambra State capital, as they protested against alleged marginalisation of the Igbo by the Federal Government as well as the recent arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The protesters numbering hundreds, mostly women, who marched from Rumuola junction along Aba Road to Ikoku and Mile Three market where majority of Igbo traders dominate, were however, denied access to Government House in Port Harcourt, as security personnel barricaded the entrance with armoured vehicles and no government official came out to address them.

One Jeremiah Nwachukwu Ibe, who claimed to be the spokesman of the protesters, said it was disheartening that the Igbo have no position in the political place of this administration.

According to him: “We are not satisfied; we are angry with the Federal Government because right now, there is no voice for the Igbo people in the centre; the Igbo have no position in the political market place of this administration and we are pained by that.”

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has arrested several people in Awka, the state capital, protesting against the trial of Radio Biafra director, Kanu.

The Co-ordinator for Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra State, Ikechukwu Okoye, who spoke with The Guardian, said that they were not protesting to cause any form of trouble but for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, adding that they were marching to the state Government House to plead with Governor Willie Obiano to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter.

He argued that they were only freedom agitators and they obey the laws of the land, insisting that we are in democracy and there is freedom of speech, freedom of movement and so on.

The state Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma, who confirmed the arrest of some persons along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, said: “There is nothing like Indigenous People of Biafra. Those people constituted nuisance on the highway and they were picked.

“Right now, I do not know the numbers that were picked, but I want to assure you that anybody who wants to disturb the peace that exists here will not go unpunished. We do not have any group that goes by such name; they were causing obstruction on the federal highway.”

While decrying the arrest of Kanu, Ibe, however, demanded that he (Kanu) be allowed to return and anchor the Radio Biafra, stressing that the Biafran people are eager to hear him speak.

He further demanded for the freedom of Biafra, adding that it should be included in the current map of Africa.

He stressed that the Igbo are united and would not relent in fighting for their course until their demands are met.
The protesters who were made of men, women, youths and children carried placards with various inscriptions describing their agitations.

Some of the placards read “Biafra or death”, “Biafra must stand”, “Biafra my home”, “We need Biafra”, “Zoo must fall, Biafra will stand”, “Biafra for life”, among others.

Speaking also, an elder statesman, who is a strong advocate of Biafra, Mr. Longinus Woke, described the protest as a welcome development, saying they are in support of it.

He said that the massive turn-out of the protesters showed that the Igbo are united, adding that no government would separate them. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to address the anomaly against the Igbo if it desires peace and also allow the Director of Radio Biafra to operate freely.