MASSOB accuses Delta police of killing 7 members

ONITSHA – Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, accused Delta State Police Command of killing seven of its members in two separate raids allegedly carried out by an anti-riot policemen and local vigilante operatives in Delta State.

According to MASSOB, the raid, which started at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra State, led to arrest and detention of one Ndubuisi Nwosu, a MASSOB chieftain now believed to be held in Cell 4 at the Anambra State Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, headquarters, Awkuzu.

The group said the riad spread to Delta State where the latest onslaught allegedly took place.

The accusation was contained in statement signed by Mazi Chris Mocha, Media Assistant to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

Mocha alleged that after the raid at MASSOB regional office at Omelugboma in Oshimili local government area of the state, during which the seven members were shot dead on the spot, a similar operation was repeated on Wednesday.

He said: “Seven persons were shot dead on the spot, while over 96 others sustained various degrees of injuries arising from bullet wounds.”

He listed those who died on the spot to include Luke Okonta, Nathaniel Okosieme, Ephraim Okocha, Okey Innocent, Akaliese Aniemena, Joseph Oroni and Miss Blessing Uwechue.

Mocha also identified those arrested as Mr. Emeka Okafor, Regional Administrator of MASSOB for Oshimili North; Francis Onuigbo, Chukwuemeka Izogo, Ndubuisi Ezeocha, Andrew Nwifuru, Ikechukwu Okpe, Ifeanyi Ugwu, Samuel Uyo, Chinedu |Ekwunife, Philip Chukwu, Odinaka Nkwuda, Sanuel Okoha and 91 others.

He said the police team also removed property from the MASSOB office, including a computer set, Biafran currency (pounds) and a generating set, before vandalizing 45 plastic chairs in the office and making away with the sum of N50,000 which would have been used to settle the MASSOB office rent.

Mocha alleged that after the police team had left the scene, the local vigilante operatives took their own turn in the looting exercise as they embarked on a house-to-house search and looting of personal property belonging to MASSOB members in the area, claiming that they were acting on the instruction of the police commissioner.