Police arrest 21 MASSOB members in Imo

No fewer than 21 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra were on Monday arrested by the Imo State Police Command.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, told journalists at the command’s headquarters in Owerri that the MASSOB members were arrested for causing public disorder.



He said that though their protest was peaceful, they failed to inform the police before taking to the streets.

He said, “Any march, no matter how peaceful it is, without the knowledge of the police is a breach of the peace. We did not know about the march until we started seeing Biafran flags in the air with over 150 MASSOBIANS. We arrested them because the march might cause a problem”.

Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, added that the protesters were arrested at Tetlow by Okigwe Road where they were chanting war songs and proclaiming the coming of Republic of Biafra.

He however, urged the people of the state to stay calm and go about their business, assuring them that the police would maintain law and order.

A MASSOB member, who gave his name as Victor Emeabian, said that those arrested did not disturb the peace.

Emeabiam said that May 30 was Biafra Day, hence the peaceful rally to celebrate the day.

He added that it was not only in Imo State that rallies were held, but in all the South-East states.

He called on the police to release those arrested as they were not violent.