Again, Herdsmen Invade Benue, Kill 15

About 15 people were injured in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State when a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) yesterday attacked the office of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike- led Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

The policemen also arrested the Anambra North Security Commander, Mr. Christian Kato, and four other members. Meanwhile, MASSOB has given a 48-hour ultimatum for the release of the arrested members. It warned that it would paralyse business activities in the state after the ultimatum. It was learnt that the policemen removed two motorcycles from the office while items worth thousands of naira were destroyed. Two hours later, another SARS team arrived the office again but MASSOB members put up a strong resistance. The policemen sped off but later called for reinforcement of soldiers.

The soldiers arrived in three Hilux vans but the MASSOB members had disappeared. Reacting to the incident, the Anambra North Zonal Leader of MASSOB, Emmanuel Omenka, said the government should not take the association’s non-violence posture for weakness.

He said: “After 48 hours if our security man is not released, we will ground business activities in Onitsha and its environs. “We do not know where they have taken five of our members to. The police took two of our motorcycles and ransacked the office and even invited the soldiers to help them kill us.” In her reaction, the Ogbaru Regional Director, Mrs. Virginia Ubazuonu, condemned the action of the police and military. She said: “Enough is enough, we can no longer take this.”