The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has called on the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and his Anambra State counterpart, Willie Obaino, to release all detained Biafra agitators held in their states since 2007.
The pro-Biafra group made the demand yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital and was contained in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke.
The group said, “MASSOB urges Obiano Okorocha to free members of other pro-Biafra groups who have been languishing in prison since 2007 and 2013 for the interest of Ndigbo.
“Detained MASSOB members at Awka prison are: Sebastian Amadi; Ikechukwu Chikwem; Peter Igbokwe; Uchenna Nicholas; Uche Idika; Casmir Odokara; Eni Kalu; Chidiebere Ezekwem; Chima Asoh (cripple); Ojimba Anyanwu; Ndubuisi Okam; Emmanuel Orji; Micheal Okezie; Ikechukwu Aghari; Mmaduabuchi Asika; Chinwike Irondi and Chukwuma Kalu.
“MASSOB members detained at Onitsha prison are; Innocent Orji, Chukwuebuka Ikenwa, Amah Onu, Okwudiri Basil (female) and Onyekachi Orji (female) while those in Owerri Prison are Benjamin Onwuka (Leader of Biafra Zionist Movement), and 12 other members.
“MASSOB is lamenting the plight of 22 members detained in Awka and Onitsha Prisons since April 2007 and that of 13 members of the Biafra Zionist Movement detained in Enugu Prisons since the last two years on frivolous charges of treasonable felony and all IPOB and BIM members detained across Biafraland.
Noting that of the 22 MASSOB detainees, one is physically challenged, two of which are female while 15 others are in dire need of medical attention, the group said, “they have been abandoned in the prison yard to rot away for being MASSOB members.”
“Several court adjournments, transfer of judges who want to establish justice and systematic delay of trial, have been used to frustrate their release at the Federal High Court Awka and state high Court, Ogidi and Federal High Court Owerri.
“MASSOB appeals to the governors to intervene and affect their release because of their aged parents who have suffered psychological trauma. Also, many of the detainees are bread winners of their families, and many of their children are no longer in school, while their wives have gone back to their respective villages,” the group added.
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