Pro-Biafra group, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has demanded the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and other detained freedom fighters.
MASSOB made the call in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu, to mark the 17th year anniversary for its struggle for the actualization of Biafra.
The group insisted that its integrity remains intact and strong regardless of the alleged selfish moves by its former leader, Ralph Uwazuruike to portray the group in bad light.
The statement reads, “The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) today (Tuesday) observe the 17yrs anniversary of the new Biafra struggle and restoration which is anchored on nonviolence principal. Today, all over the world, MASSOB members are on sober reflection, as we remember the brutalities, persecutions, mesmerization, traumatic torture, extra judicial killings, afflictions, imprisonment and traumatic deaths in the hands of the security agents of Nigeria, we resolved that we shall never relent or succumb.
“Internal colonialism, falsehood, deceit, insensitivities of former leader, Ralph Uwazuruike including his love, lust and selfish desire for materialism, money and women which negatively affected the image and integrity of MASSOB has never weakened our love, commitment and consistency in MASSOB.
“We know and understand that freedom can never be achieved on a platter of gold, persecutions and political subjections always strengthen the zeal of a genuine freedom fighters. The more a freedom fighter is politically incarcerated, the more he’s hardened, the more his followers becomes uncontrollable,
“MASSOB demand the release of Mazi Nnamdi kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Emmanuel Otuu, Benjamin Nwawuisi, Mmadubugwu of IPOB, Benjamin Onwuka of BZM, Innocent Orji, Sabastine Amadi and 23 other detained MASSOB members at Awka and Onitsha prisons.”
The movement also called on the government of Norway to release a pro-Biafra agitator, Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie, who was arrested in January 2015 and has since remained in detention despite his deteriorating health.
The statement reads further, “Today, as MASSOB celebrate new life, zeal, credibility, confidence/ trust, selfless leadership and genuine focus on Biafra, we draws the attention of the Norwegian Government to the plight of Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie ( the Biafra coordinating figure in Norway & other Nordic countries) incarcerated with psychological and traumatic torture in prison at Trandum Utlendingsinternat, Trandunvegen, Mogreina.
“He was arrested on 19th Jan 2015 by Norwegian Police under falsehood testimonies against him, he is still in detention with detoriating health challenges facing some frivolous charges of being championing the activities of Biafra in Nordic countries. He has spent more than eighteen months in Norwegian prison.
“With full respect and regards to the International laws and declaration guiding and upholding the self determination of Indigenous people, MASSOB wish to remind the government of Norway that Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie, a non violence Biafra crusader that had lived in Norway since 2004 organised and hosted a well attended 3 days Biafra conference in Oslo between 29th-31st August, 2014, this Biafra conference was heavily attended by representatives of Norwegian Parliament, International observers, Friends of Biafra and Biafrans from Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Canada, USA, Switzerland, Ireland and other Nordic countries.
“MASSOB believes that the government and the people of Norway respect and upholds the articles and principals of human right of all persons including acknowledging the declaration of United Nation on the Rights of Indigenous People. MASSOB also believe that the government of Norway will respect the sanctity of personal right of Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie to live, have freedom of association and right to decide his citizenship whether Biafra, Nigeria or Norway.
“MASSOB on behalf of the people of Biafra with diplomatic respect to the government of Norway and future relationship with Norway and Biafra, we demand that the Norwegian Police should release our brother, a non violence Biafra agitator, Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie. Even when the Norwegian Parliament wrote to the police about their knowledge of Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie as a non violence Biafra agitator informing them that Parliament is aware of Lotachukwu’s activities concerning Biafra self determination, also the Parliament advised the police to release him and avoid fallen into the deceptive trap of Nigeria Secret police (DSS) or illegal deportation back to Nigeria as such would amount to sending Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie into an abyss of hell fire. Still the Norwegian police holds him planning to illegally deport Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie to the waiting hands of evil Nigeria government.
“Has it become a crime for a haunted man to seek asylum in Norway or has Norway become an aligned partner with Nigeria in persecuting, prosecuting, imprisoning and jailing non Violence Biafra agitators? Has it also become an abomination that Biafra people will no longer live in Norway or has Norway banned Biafran people from residing in their country? What interest or achievement do Norwegian police gain in their plan with Nigeria immigration Service and Department of State Security in illegal deportation of Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie back to Nigeria for systematic and intensive torture. Have the people and government of Norway forgot over seventy years of economic relationship with the people Biafra in Stockfish trade?”
The group also claimed that the recent United Nation’s report, saying Nigeria was heavily polarised along religious, ethnic and regional identity “confirmed and justified the self determination struggle of Mazi Lotachukwu Okolie and millions of other Biafrans in actualization and restoration of sovereign state of Biafra where it observed that for decades, different segments of Nigeria population had, at different times, expressed feelings of marginalization, of being shortchanged, dominated, oppressed, threatened or even targeted for elimination.”
Meanwhile, Army, police hold 1,000 members hostage in Nsukka
They were, however, intercepted at Ede-Oballa, about two kilometers to Nsukka town by combined team of soldiers and police held over one thousand members of Movement for the Actualization Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) hostage. .
Speaking with newsmen, the Zonal Leader of Enugu North senatorial zone of MASSOB, Mr. James Omeke said the movement was celebrating its seventeen years since it came into existence of Chief Ralph Uwazurike.
Omeke said that when they reached Ede-Oballa, they were stopped by a combined team of army and police.
“They collected our caps, flags and ordered us to go home after keeping us for three hours.
“When they stopped us, our members numbering about 1000 were searched and no arms or any dangerous weapon was found from anybody.
“We stayed there for about three hours before they told us to go home; the march was non-violent and peaceful”, he said.
The zonal leader said they anticipated that the celebration would be interrupted by security agencies, adding that they were not afraid because the movement had been non-violent since it started seventeen years ago by Uwazurike.
“What we are celebrating today is seventeen years anniversary of MASSOB since 1999.
“We see today’s celebration as a success since we have used it to create more awareness about the movement.
‘We appeal to the federal government of Nigeria to stop harassing us since the movement is peaceful and nonviolent.
“We also call UN to expedite action towards conducting a referendum.
“In spite of the harassment, the struggle for Biafra continues as members will not relent until Biafra is realized”, he added.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations officer, Enugu State, SP Ebere Amaraizu said the MASSOB members were stopped from entering Nsukka town to avoid any breach of peace.
“Yes, I am aware some members of MASSOB marching to Nsukka town to celebrate 17 years anniversary were stopped at Ede-Oballa by security agents, the aim is to avoid any breach of peace.
“They were stopped from entering Nsukka town and sent back home because they were peaceful, non-violent and no dangerous weapon was found on them during the march”, he said.
The group said despite intimidation and harassment from security agents, it remained resolute in its struggle for the actualisation of Biafra.
