MASSOB Threatens Show Down Over Planned Arrest Of Leader, Uwazuruike

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Friday, August 29th, 2014

From Ignatius Okpara, Umuahia

Loyalists of the embattled leader of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazurike, have threatened to revert to its reputed violent approach, should the Police disobey an Owerri High court order which recently restrained the Force from arresting the Igbo Pan socio – cultural organization boss.

Speaking with newsmen in Aba, the Abia state capital, the MASSOB acting director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, said his group has received an intelligence report indicating that the police was planning to arrest their leader, Uwazuruike in defiance to the court order.

The MASSOB Spokesperson insisted that the Police was wrong to have extended invitation to Uwazuruike, over the Okwe incident which he argued, did not concern him and warned of dire consequences should the Police defy the court order.

He however, described the Okwe incident as a family matter which he disclosed would be handled in the normal Igbo way of settling issues which does need the involvement of the Police.

His words, “Although last week’s incident at our headquarters in Okwe is unfortunate, but it is a family matter which we are handling the way the Igbo community resolves their problems which does not require the involvement of police.

“Police should know that they are MASSOB’s number one enemy and their coming into the matter would not help matters.

“Before inviting our leader, Uwazuruike to their office, they should first account for the thousands of MASSOB members they massacred,” Okereafor challenged.

He therefore appealed to Ndigbo to support MASSOB which according to him, was poised to liberate them from bondage.

Okereafor insisted that the group would not fold its arms and allowed the Police to humiliate Uwazurike, who he described as a peace loving man.

A member of the movement who preferred anonymity told newsmen that the Imo State Commissioner of Police, invited the MASSOB leader for questioning and threatening to declare him wanted if he refuses to report to his office in Owerri, an action the source contended contradicted existing court ruling.

It would be recalled that African Examiner had earlier reported heavy fighting between the two factions of MASSOB at its Okwe headquarters in Onuimo Council Area of Imo State few weeks ago.

The fight claimed 4 lives.