BY ERIC UGBOR, Aba

MOVEMENT for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, over what it described as the flagrant disobedience of the order of President Goodluck Jonathan and continued harassment of its member, Iheanyi Chinweoda by the police in zone 9, Umuahia, Abia state.

Despite Chinweoda’s denials and subsequent attestation by the police from the area command that they were actually the people that arrested Chiaka, the Zone 9 police clamped the complainant into detention for over a month without trial, despithe Jonathan’s order, while those that destroyed his shop, goods and property were released and allowed to go free, MASSOB said.

Chinweoda was said to have remained in police detention from July 20 till August 29, 2011 when President Jonathan ordered the release of all MASSOB members in detention.

In letter, the group denied Chinweoba commited the crime he is accused of said the Abia police and that signed by the director of information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, MASSOB stated that on July 17, 2011, one Obilali Chiaka of Umuobilalo Amaba Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government in support of his father, Emmanuel Chiaka Mba willfully set ablaze Chinweoda’s shop together with cash and goods worth N685, 000. The accused was equally alleged to have threatened to kill the latter’s younger brother who accosted them.

MASSOB said the matter was duly reported to the police at Zone 9 who directed the Umuahia area command to arrest the suspect and this was effected the following day.

However, after three days, the complainant was invited by the police at Zone 9 and confronted with the allegation that he was a MASSOB member and that the accused were arrested by his (MASSOB) members.

The Organization said that in spite of the presidential order, the Zone 9 police command still kept her member in detention for another one week.

MASSOB said it was at loss that after the release of her member following the presidential order, the police in Umuahia represented by the officer in charge of legal matters one Offor, was still inviting him for a matter the president has put to rest through his pronouncement.

While reaffirming her non violence resolve in pursuing her struggle which she however said should not be taken for granted, MASSOB urged the Inspector General of police to not only stop his men at Zone 9, Umuahia from further harassing their said member, but also ensure that justice was done by directing the police in Abia state to prosecute Obilali Emmanuel Mba and his father for the damage done to Chinweoda’s property.