(Dom Ekpunobi, ONITSHA)
Thirty-two members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, and one Policeman were yesterday killed in Onitsha, Anambra state, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Republic of Biafra made in 1967.
Daily Sun also gathered that one soldier attached to the Onitsha 302 Military regiment was stabbed and seriously wounded, while the Nnewi South Regional Administrator of The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Anthony Nwodo and 14 others were arrested by the Joint Security Taskforce.
He was said to have been arredted at Ezinifite on their way to his home townfrom Onitsha.
Our source said that of the 32 people who died,two were killed at the Niger Bridge Head while moving into Onitsha from Asaba in Delta State.as they were coming from Asaba, Delta state , another two killed at Nkpor, while the rest died at various other locations in Onitsha.
Our source said that on getting to the Bridge they met a stiff resistance from members of JTF resulting in a bloody clash that also led to the death of a policeman and the stabbing of a soldier.
The IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful while commenting on the incident said, “they killed about 25 of our armless members at Nkpor without any cause. They just opened fire on us as we were having peaceful procession”.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Omenka, the Personal Assistance to the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike said, “no amount of killing of Biafra agItators will deter us from fighting to actualize a Sovereign State of Biafra”.
Meanwhile, all the markets in Onitsha and environs were shut down against state government order on the eve of the celebration that no market should be shut.