From: Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Condemnation has continued to trail the arrest of some members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and Biafra Independence Movement (MASSOB/BIM).
Members of the pro-Biafra were arrested on Monday during a rally to herald its independence anniversary celebrations. Others were dispersed with tear gas and wounded.
But Elders-in-Council of MASSOB/BIM, on Tuesday, rose against the arrest and demanded unconditional release of those unlawfully detained for non-violent demonstration across the South-East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.
A member of the elders’ council, Larry Odinmah, supported by his Delta North Coordinator, Chinedu Amaifeobu, and the Zonal Commander of Security, Ignatius Adili-Ajana, made this position known in Asaba.
They condemned what they described as intimidation, harassment, arrest and detention of over 30 agitators in Asaba, including the Delta Central Coordinator, Mr. Berry Akujinwa.
Odinmah, who narrated the outcome of the emergency meeting with Ralph Uwazuruike at the national secretariat in Owerri over the arrest, said the elders have demanded an unconditional release of all those arrested.
“Nigeria is operating under the UN charter, which bestows the right on us to demonstrate peacefully and call ourselves Biafrans. The elders’ council condemned the action of police, because the force is aware that MASSOB/BIM is a non-violent group. Nigerian government should grant them unconditional release and allow us (Biafrans) to go,” he stated.
The elders, who stopped over at Late Chukwumah Nzeogwu’s (a civil war veteran) house in Okpanam axis of Asaba on the order of Uwazuruike, consoled with his family on the death of his sister.
Odinmah said the proposed football match in Asaba to end the anniversary celebration has been rescheduled to a later date to be communicated.