Police arrest 140 Biafran agitators

• Protests ground Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta, Rivers

Members of the splinter group of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereignty State of Biafra (MASSOB) – the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) – yesterday grounded social and economic activities in Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta and Rivers states.

The BIM members were marking what they termed the Biafra Independent Day. However, the celebrations led to clashes with law enforcement agents across the states. At the end, the police arrested 50 members in Ebonyi State, 41 in Enugu State, over 30 in Delta State and more than 20 in Abia State. The BIM members paralysed activities within the Owerri metropolis as they thronged the major roads and streets in commemoration of the Biafra Independence Day.

The protesters, who arrived in buses from the 27 local government areas of the state with Biafra flags and posters bearing various inscriptions depicting commitment to Biafran nation, chanted Biafran songs. The protesters comprising men, women and youths arrived the ever-busy Douglas Road by 8a.m. from where they moved to the popular Ama JK Junction, Wetheral Road, Tetlow Road, Royce Road and Bank Road.
Acknowledging cheers from Biafran supporters, who chanted endlessly “on Biafra we stand,” the protesters later moved to the imposing Maria Assumpta roundabout control post. Apparently impressed by their non-violent approach, security men neither harassed nor stopped the protest. In a telephone conversation, the BIM leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, claimed responsibility for the protest, saying that it was organised to prove his irrevocable commitment to the actualisation of Biafra.

 

He said: “I challenge anybody who claims to be of a higher command and authority than myself in the struggle to actualise Biafra to come out and prove his mettle. Of course, nobody, group, or association can do this because they lack the capacity and membership to do so.”

Uwazuruike, who expressed satisfaction with the peaceful protest, expressed optimism that the Biafra project would eventually be realised in no distant time. However, the story was different in Ebonyi State as police arrested over 50 BIM members in Abakaliki.

The group had declared May 22 to 30 as public holidays to mark Biafra Independence. Yesterday, Biafra flags flooded Abakaliki during the rally. The pro-Biafra agitators were arrested on their way from Ohaukwu and Onueke to join the rally in the state capital.

The Biafra agitators had marched from the popular Spera- In-Deo Junction to Presco Junction. MASSOB/BIM leader in the state, John Nwifuru, said the protesters were guarded by a team of policemen to ensure it was not high jacked by hoodlums.

But the Uchenna Madu-led MASSOB group has disassociated itself from the rally. National Secretary of the group, Ugwuoke Ibem, said “the people on the streets today displaying the Biafra flag are not MASSOB members as they may claim, they are members of BIM observing their own Biafra day.

In Enugu, the police arrested about 41 BIM members. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest, said the pro-Biara agitators were earlier warned not to embark on any violent protest. He said the BIM members defied the warning and that the police had to arrest them.
“No fewer than 41 persons suspected to be members of BIM were nabbed by security operatives of the command from various parts of Enugu metropolis on Monday morning based on intelligence information that they were about to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace. Investigations into their alleged activities have begun,” Amaraizu said in a statement.

 

In Delta State, policemen and soldiers fired canisters of tear gas to disperse BIM members. The security agents also arrested more than 30 agitators, including the Coordinator of the movement in Delta Central Senatorial District, Mr. Berry Akujinwa.

They had converged on the Abraka end of the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway with gongs, trumpets, drums and cymbals to celebrate what they tagged “the birth of Biafra,” as announced by Uwazuruike, before the security agents pounced on them.

The raid was supervised by the Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim. Ibrahim mobilised his men at the headquarters, A, B, C, Divisions, G.R.A, Okpanam, Ibusa, Illah and Ugbolu Divisional Headquarters. Trouble started when the agitators started arriving the takeoff venue for the demonstration in droves.

The commissioner ordered his men to fire tear gas at them, which later led to sporadic shooting that attracted men of the military Joint Task Force (JTF). But the Delta North Coordinator of the group, Chief Chinedu Amaifeobu, supported by his Delta South counterpart, Mr. Patrick Agwulabi and the Zonal Commander of Security, Ignatius Adili-Ajana, wondered why the police suddenly fired tear gas at them when they had not committed any offence.

The agitators, clad in Biafran attire, called on the Federal Government to set them free as they danced to solidarity songs. “We are peace-loving people of Biafra. We are not violent agitators for the sovereign state of Biafra. All we are saying is enough of this enslavement, harassment, maiming, unlawful killings and arrest of our citizens.
“Today is the birthday of Biafra. Our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has declared 22nd of May every year as Biafran Day, that is why we are on the streets of Nigeria to celebrate from now till seven days,” Amaifeobu said. He also said the choice of Asaba for the celebration was strategic to the agitation, because of the Eastern and Mid-Western regions’ amalgamation deal.

When contacted for comment at the scene of the raid, the police commissioner, said: “I’m not here for that. I’m here for business!” Soldiers attached to 144 Battalion arrested 20 protesters in Aba, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

While members of the group were holding the rally within the city centre, those rushing to meet up with them were, however, halted by soldiers at Osisioma junction. Twenty of them were arrested. Reports said they were being detained at the Army camp at Ngwa High School. Several Aba residents condemned the action of the soldiers. This came as soldiers at the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, at the weekend, allegedly harassed and molested women of IPOB and MASSOB at Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area.

 

In a telephone interview, the Abia South leader of MASSOB/ BIM, Opkorie Kama, confirmed the arrest and detention of his members by soldiers attached to Ngwa High School. When contacted, 14 Brigade Army Public Relations Officer (APRO), Major Oyegoke Gbadomosi, confirmed the arrest of the pro-Biafra members in Aba. Gbadomosi said the Brigadier- General in-charge of the 14 Brigade had directed soldiers at the Ngwa High School, Aba to allow those arrested to go home as soon as they were through with the screening.

Also, the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State stood still as BIM members took to the streets to observe the 17th anniversary of re-declaration of Biafra and hoisting of its flag at Aba, Abia State on May 22, 2000. Hundreds of BIM members from Nnewi, Awkuzu, Aguleri, Umueri, Nsugbe Ogidi, Nkpor Oba and environs took over the Onitsha-Owerri Road, old Market Road, Nkpor New Road and Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. They chanted Biafran songs and praised Uwazurike for reviving the Biafran struggle.

The procession caused traffic jam along the major roads as private and commercial vehicles moved slowly behind them. The group waved various flags with inscriptions signifying Biafra. There was, however, no procession in Nnewi and Awka as people went about their normal business.

The celebration in Onitsha was peaceful but trucks carrying officials of the Joint Task Force of the military, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were parading the streets to maintain law and order. Addressing journalists on the roadside in Onitsha, the Anambra North Zone leader of MASSOB- BIM, Mr. Vincent Iloh, said May 22, 2000 was the day Uwazurike re-declared the New Biafran struggle for independence from Nigeria.

 

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the police seized the Biafra flag and dispersed protesters at Government Craft Centre bus stop on Aba Road. Hundreds of policemen were deployed on the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs to maintain law and order. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said the deployment came in response to the rally.