By Tony Edike

ENUGU – THE Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Wednesday, raised an alarm over the alleged plot by the dreaded Boko Haram sect to bomb the venue of the South East Economic summit holding at Nike Lake Resort Enugu today and tomorrow.

The statement which was signed by the MASSOB spokesperson Comrade Uchenna Madu and made available to newsmen in Enugu, today, was entitled “Plot to Bomb South-East Economic Summit tomorrow.’

The statement which MASSOB said was in defense of Igbo land from bloodshed asked the participants to exercise caution.

The statement reads:  “In defense of Igbo land from bloodshed, MASSOB wishes to alert organizers and guests to the Economic Summit of attempt to have great Biafra sons and daughters massacred in one day.

“Though MASSOB is not against Boko Haram, and its agitation for
Islamic state, they should not carry their bombing into Biafra land as we shall resist it.

“As president Jonathan has ordered the release of MASSOB members in detention, we wish to remind the Imo State government to release the remaining MASSOB members arrested on 30th May 2011 and who
the police is charging for armed robbery. They are dumped at Owerri prisons.”

The latest bomb scare is coming barely a week after Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the blast that rocked the United Nation’s building in Abuja killing more than 20 persons and injuring several others.

The alert from MASSOB has heightened tension in the entire South East but the Enugu State Police command has dismissed the warning insisting that the police in the state with its anti-bomb squad was well prepared.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Ebere Amaraizu told reporters in Enugu that the command  did not get such a signal re-assuring those attending the summit of their safety..

He said there is no cause for alarm; “and moreover there is no trace of Boko Haram in Enugu so where would they come from; however we are ready and we are re-assuring residents of Enugu and guests to the summit that all is well in the state.”

One of the organizers of the summit said security agencies had been duly notified of the development.

“We got the report of the security threat and we have made it known to the security agencies. Participants should not be disturbed by this report which we have not been able to confirm the source,” a member of the planning committee said last night.