Many Feared Dead As Biafra Protest Turns Bloody In Onitsha

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

*Agitators Clash With Security Operatives, Set Mosque Ablaze

By Ignatius Okpara, Onitsha

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The ongoing protest by Biafran agitators on Wednesday turned bloody in Onitsha, Anambra state, Southeast Nigeria, as it led to the burning down of the Central mosque in the commercial city, as well as claiming some lives.

It was gathered that trouble began when members of the two groups, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, clashed with security operatives.

The new acting national leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu, denied that “the setting of Onitsha central mosque and, vehicles ablaze and making of burning fires, which depict violence were done by members of IPOB or MASSOB under his leadership.

He said “This unwarranted acts of violence are perfected by hoodlums sponsored by agents of Federal Government to create impression that we are violent, hence they sponsored violence against us.”

“We have been on this peaceful demonstration and protest for over a month without any act of violence, how can we now resort to violence now that we are told that the presidency is about negotiating with leaders of pro Biafra groups? Madu asked

Commenting on plans by Governors of South-East zone to begin dialogue with the protesting groups, madu said “with today’s killing of our members and injuring many with bullet shots, we are no longer comfortable with presidency’s move for dialogue, the dialogue is hypocritical and deceitful.

“Any Igbo group, organization and persons negotiating. Or meeting with the presidency on our behalf without our consent or mandate should stop now.

“MASSOB led by Comrade Uchenna Madu and the IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu have never mandated any person to negotiate for us.

“Even in this persecution, arrest, killings, clampdown, suppression against us by Nigeria government, we shall continue and intensify our non-violent agitation for Biafra.”