28 of our members missing in Abia- MASSOB
By Anayo Okoli
Umuahia—Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused Abia State Police Command of mass arrest of its members, alleging that the whereabouts of 28 were currently unknown.
But the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Bala Hassan, in a quick reaction, dismissed the claim, saying the Police was not involved in extra-judicial killing.
According MASSOB, while eight members are currently languishing at Afara Prisons, two are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the police command.
The group accused Abia Police Command of neglecting President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged order for all MASSOB members in detention to be released.
MASSOB, in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, alleged that the mass arrest was ordered by Abia State Government on a day they were hoisting their flag to commemorate their 12th year anniversary.
However, Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr. Bala Hassan, denied that his men had detained 28 MASSOB members anywhere in the state.
Hassan admitted, however, that eight members of the group were currently at Afara Prisons where they were remanded by the court, adding that two other members were being detained at the state CID.
He denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the alleged missing 28 members of MASSOB.
Hassan said: “You know we don’t engage in extra judicial killing. We have some of them in the Prisons and state CID. They should check them there.”
But MASSOB insisted that their men were missing, saying “right now, about 28 members of MASSOB are still missing. These men and women were arrested in their homes, allegedly, by the governor’s security agents to unknown destinations.
“While these names below [names attached] were arrested by the red cap policemen, the remaining 28 members are still missing.”
The group said continued detention of its members was contrary to the order allegedly issued by President Goodluck Jonathan to the effect that all MASSOB members detained any where in the country be released.
The gave the names of the their members in Afara Prison as Chief Moses Chionye, Mrs. Peace Chionye, Mr. Humphrey Nwakanma, Mr. Akwakanti and Mr. Chika Uluocha. Others are Ndubuisi Nwahiri, Sunday Brown and Ndubuisi Nmaduako.
According to Madu, those in detention at the State CID are Goodluck Afonne and John Irotahu, described as Keke operators.
MASSOB has therefore appealed to the President to urge the Abia police command to obey his release-all-MASSOB-members order as they “did not commit any offence”.
