Police raid MASSOB office, arrest 11 members
From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
THE police have renewed their crackdown on members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
A detachment of mobile policemen from the Imo State Police Command yesterday stormed the country home of the group's leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike in Okwe, Onuimo Local Council. They took away Biafran flags and souvenirs. Eleven members of the group were also allegedly arrested by the police.
The police raid of the MASSOB chief's residence was confirmed by the Imo State Police Command's spokesman, Mr. Chike Nwabuwa.
Uwazurike, from his hideout, told journalists that his residence was invaded by the police and that he narrowly escaped death.
He claimed that the police laid siege to his family house and shot sporadically through the main entrance, which prompted him to run for safety.
But Nwabuwa, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told The Guardian that the command had acted on intelligence reports indicating that the group was in possession of Biafran flags and souvenirs at Uwazurike's residence.
"We noticed that MASSOB was in possession of Biaran flags and souvenirs. The police went to that area to stop it from perpetrating the act. We are surprised that people are worried about this".
Uwazurike in his account, said the police arrived at his country at about 10 a.m. and ransacked the "Freedom House" building owned by MASSOB for two hours.
His mother's house was also not spared, he stated.
The MASSOB chief listed items taken away by the police as including a carton of radio communication gadgets, six MTN handsets, clothes, identity cards and N11,000 cash.
Eleven members of the group, according to him, were also arrested.
He expressed dismay at his being constantly harassed by the police.
"Why should I run away from my home town after I have ran away from Lagos? This is why I have not visited Lagos for a long time now, yet they are after me in my home town. What offence have I committed? he lamented.
