Four persons killed as MASSOB, security agents clash in Onitsha!

Four persons were allegedly killed when members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra  (MASSOB) clashed with the joint security team in Onitsha.

MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike

Though the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who spoke through the Director for Information, Uchenna Madu, alleged that the recent killing of the members by the joint patrol team was not unconnected with the earlier stance that the movement would not support the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of  the Saturday governorship election in Anambra State.

Madu disclosed that the incident happened in the early hours of Monday when a joint team of the army, the police and men of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) stormed MASSOB headquarters on the Onitsha-Owerri road and allegedly opened fire on their members, which resulted in the death of four persons, while scores sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds.

He also disclosed that during the clash, over 87 persons were critically injured and were denied medical attention because of lack of police medical permits; about 18 vehicles belonging to MASSOB members and traders at Ngbuka-Obosi, Old Motor Spare Parts Obosi;137 motorcycles belonging to MASSOB members were burnt and N920,000 was taken by the security agents.

Other items allegedly destroyed during the raid included 23 bags of rice, four bags of beans, 11 bags of gari and 228 tubers of yam and other food items at MASSOB store were vandalised and burnt during the attack.

The MASSOB image maker also said 37 traders in the Old Motor Spare Parts, Mgbuka, also sustained bullet wounds and were taken to various hospitals for medical attention.

He alleged that the clampdown on their members was masterminded by the state government, which he accused of not being comfortable about their resolve to announce their preferred candidate ahead of the Saturday governorship election and dumping APGA and its candidate.

“This devilish act of cowardice meted on MASSOB was not unconnected to our refusal to allow our name to be used by some desperate politicians who wanted to score cheap political goal, using our platform.

“We had issued a statement distancing ourselves from supporting APGA and its candidate ahead of the governorship election in the state. We are aware that the stand we took did not go down well with some highly placed persons in the state, hence, the attack was to disorganise us and browbeat us to submission".
However, when contacted for comments, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),  DSP Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he had not been officially briefed on the incident as of the time of filling this report.