MASSOB Demands Unconditional Release of 18 Biafran War Veterans

Posted by African Examiner Featured, News Sunday, May 11th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has demanded for the immediate and unconditional release of Biafran war veterans arrested by the police in Enugu.

MASSOB Leader Nwazurike

According to the group, the war veterans were intercepted and arrested on Saturday at Awgu near Enugu on their way to Okwe, Imo state for a meeting with their disabled colleagues being quartered there.

“The meeting was to discuss more effective ways of managing the welfare of the disabled war veterans “abandoned by the governments but rehabilitated by MASSOB”.

A statement issued by MASSOB Director of information, Uchenne Madu, made available to newsmen in Enugu Sunday, said the arrested veterans led by Gen. Paul Okonkwo (rtd) were carrying with them various food items including N300,000 three hundred cash meant for their disabled colleagues quartered at Okwe by the movement.

The organization however, described the arrest of the 18 eminent veterans as an “affront on Ndigbo and an act of cowardice.”

The statement reads: “The disabled soldiers were abandoned by the Federal government. Their colleagues, old men who were on solidarity meeting with some food items such as rice, yams, garri, beans etc and money cash of N300,000 were brutally molested by Nigeria Police,” alleged MASSOB.

While calling for the unconditional release of the arrested veterans, MASSOB wondered how the police contemplated arresting the harmless old men including their leader, Gen. Paul Okonkwo (rtd). ,

“How could the police molest a Biafran war veteran, a living hero, the pride of Ndigbo in the face of the security situation in Nigeria?” It queried?

The group therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police IGP, Mohammed Abubaar to call his men to order because “MASSOB and Ndigbo are no longer happy with the gross insults against their elders.”

“We demand the immediate release of our fathers, the commander of Biafra war veterans and 17 other national executive council members of the veterans,” it stated