Pro-Biafra groups hold peaceful protest in Aba

 

Members of the Movement for the Actualization for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) under the leadership of Mr. Uchenna Madu and other pro-Biafra supporters on Tuesday in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State held a peaceful protest.

The Protesters in black apparel, The Nation gathered matched from Powerline by Ariaria-Brass while another group matched from Main Park to Brass junction and later terminated their march at Osisioma junction as they chanted pro-Biafra and anti President Buhari’s songs.

Our reporter gathered that while the groups’ protest lasted, business and economic activities were going on while residents of the city were seen going about their lawful business except for the traffic gridlock on the road while the protesters numbering over two thousand marched on the major roads.

Sources in MASSOB said that they decided to embark on the protest to protest against last Thursday killing of three butchers at the Waterside abattoir located along Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Nimbo-Uzo Uwani killing by a soldier serving under 144 Battalion and purported armed herdsmen in Enugu State and the recent statement by President Buhari that Biafra will not be achievable under his watch.

They said that they took the step as a measure to let the world know the injustices that the people of the Old Eastern Region have been suffering in the hands of Nigerian government and also to pass a strong message to the federal government that it was high time it called its agents (security operatives) to order.

They warned that despite the fact that the group had resorted to fighting their cause through peaceful means, they may be forced to use every means available to ensure that “territories of Biafra” remains free from any form of invasion even as they warned that they would not hesitate to strike back should its territory be invaded again.

In a telephone chat, Comrade Anayochukwu Okpara, MASSOB Abia State coordinator said that they were protesting against the statement credited to President Buhari that he will crush Biafra.

According to Okpara, “We want to assure him that nobody can assure Biafra, not even a thousand Buharis. It will surprise him that Biafra will be actualized during his reign as Nigeria’s President.”

He vowed that the group may be forced to continue the protest after their meeting on Tuesday’s night where they hope to discuss other issues.

A source from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who simply identified himself as Chukwuma said “It was in the news that Buhari supported and is still supporting the secession of Western Sahara from Morocco and why is he suppressing the emergence of the Sovereign State of Biafra. Is this double standard? In fact, Buhari will be the last President of Nigeria.”

In a release issued to the press, leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu said “The world is a global village. Autocratic and Tyrannical leadership doesn’t prevail in this present world; it is a free platform for everyone to express himself. Biafra actualization is a struggle of survival and advancement which Buhari can never stop. Obasanjo, Yar Adua and Jonathan could not stop it. Buhar’s system of governance openly and evidently support, motivate and inspire the zeal of Biafran struggle. God, History and Humanity are on our side; Biafra.”

Abia State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Udeviotu Onyeke could not be reached for comment, but a senior police officer who pleaded anonymity warned groups like MASSOB against any form of protest, stressing that the state government’s ban on any form of protest in the state still subsist even as the source warned that Police and sister agencies would not fold their arms an watch some individuals or group of people threaten the relative peace in the city of Aba.