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Police to unleash MOPOLs in MOSOB
FELIX UKA,
Awka
POLICE
in Anambra State said they are battle-ready for members of the Movement for the
Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) who are set to observe
August 26 this year, as Biafra Day.
They said they are set to unleash 120
newly-recruited mobile police women on MASSOB should the latter use women and
children as human shield to cause public disturbance.
MASSOB, a self-professed non-violent
organisation, had set aside the date as a day of silent protest and asked its
members and sympathisers nationwide, to sit at home.
The organisation, which has frequently
raised alarm on the killings of its members by the police has often reiterated
that it would not be compelled to take up arms to seek a sovereign state of
Biafra.
But apparently taking no chances, police
authorities in Anambra State said they are keeping a keen watch on MASSOB and
its activities and would battle the group for peace to reign.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in
the state, Mr. Kolakpo Shofolowe told Daily Champion yesterday that the
intelligence unit of the command was monitoring activities of MASSOB to avert
any molestation of law-abiding citizens in the state.
Shofolowu urged residents of the state to
ignore the call by MASSOB for Biafra, saying there is only one sovereign state
in Nigeria.
To avert any molestation of citizens, the
police spokesman said "the command is going to put more men on guard so there
should be no need to fear."
He explained that the command got wind of
the MASSOB plans for August 26 through a press statement made available to the
command where MASSOB called on people to observe the August 26, 2004, as Biafra
Day.
The PPRO said police thinking is that such
occasion could turn out to be used by miscreants to foment trouble, pointing out
that it is the duty of the police to guard against such.
Giving details of the preparedness of the
police, he said the 120 police women who were recruited into the command’s
Mobile Police Unit could be used to quel any outbreak of crisis involving women
and children during the said Biafra Day.
"Our intelligence unit is working round
the clock to monitor the MASSOB programmes," he said.
Meanwhile commander of both the Mobile
Police Unit and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command were at a crucial
meeting when Daily Champion called at the offices to get further details
of the plan.
Members of MASSOB who Daily Champion
met along Zik’s Road, Awka, said they were only planning to remember those who
died in the cause of fighting for the Republic of Biafra on Biafra Day.
One of them who gave his name as Chikelu
said they were aware of the police surveillance on them, vowing that nothing
would stop their programme on August 26.
Chikelu explained that the celebration is
also billed to rekindle the spirit of Biafra on those who believed in the
resurgence of the republic.
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