About 200 members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were yesterday arrested by the police in Onitsha, Anambra State commercial nerve centre.
The group�s director of information, Comrade Uchenna Madu said the mass arrest was sequel to an order by the Anambra State Commissioner of Police (CP), Muktari Ibrahim who was prompted by Governor Peter Obi, whose hatred for MASSOB has never been hidden.
Madu said police hounded MASSOB members who are predominantly Okada riders and were wearing MASSOB identity cards and caps.
But the police spokesman in Anambra state, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka said he has not been briefed about the arrest, hoping that the information will come to the desk later yesterday.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Mike Udah however denied that governor Obi has a hand in the arrest of MASSOB members in Onitsha Tuesday.
He said the Commissioner of Police as the head of federal security agency in the state do not take directly from Governor Obi to arrest any person who has flouted the law.
He said if MASSOB members so arrested flouted any law of the land, the Commissioner of Police do not need any permission from the governor before arresting them, and they should not blame their plight on the governor.
But Madu insisted that Obi has instructed the Commissioner of Police to arrest MASSOB members who had refused to identify with the task and revenue policies of Obi�s government because of their Biafra struggle.
"That is why they are being hounded. Most of the MASSOB members are Okada riders and they earn a living through Okada riding. Obi�s action is wicked because he has no Igbo interest but he claimed to be a disciple of Odimegwu Ojukwu. His action on MASSOB does not betray Ojukwu�s position as Igbo leader", said MASSOB.
Governor Obi should know that he climbed to Government House through the ladder of MASSOB in 2003, where three of their members died in Atani protesting Obi�s ballot box.
He accused the CP of trying to cause the similar crisis in Plateau and Borno States in Anambra State by provoking MASSOB without any reason even when they are non-violent.
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