BIAFRA: MASSOB Takes To The Streets In Protest

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is not giving up on its struggle for an independent state of Biafra.

On Sunday, August 23, about 6,000 members of MASSOB took to the streets in Asaba, the Delta state capital in protest, shouting ‘Freedom for Biafra.’

According to a Leadership report, the protesters, who were dressed in black and red uniform and armed with walking sticks distributed fliers to members of the public, particularly motorists and people returning from church programmes.

The protesters, chanting freedom songs and demanding freedom from the Nigerian state took over the double lanes of the Nnebisi road and Summit road, causing traffic gridlock around the area.

Speaking to newsmen, some of them said their reason for protesting was to sensitise their members in the state on the need to join forces to actualise the Biafra dream.

“A lot has been achieved by the group and we are in town to assure our members to keep the hope alive as we will get freedom soon,” some said.

Expressing optimism, the protesters said they were presently operating a radio station and a website cable television network.

They also disclosed that they have secured a meeting place at Oneh Primary School, Asaba where they will be holding their meetings every Sunday from 2pm.

Confirming the incident, the police public relations officer in the state, Mrs. Celestina Kalu, said the police had brought the situation under control, adding that they were monitoring the protesters’ activities closely to ensure that they do not breach the peace in the state.

Over 40 years after the Nigerian Civil War ended and the Biafra Republic which was led by the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu collapsed, the agitation for the rebirth of the defunct republic has been kept alive in the minds of some die-hard believers of the Igbo secession bid.

In July, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said it had successfully jammed signals from Radio Biafra. A few hours later, the radio station was still blaring its message in at least one location in the South East — Nnewi, Anambra state, saying they cannot be stopped.

About a week later, the federal government finally shut down Radio Biafra and the radio station’s engineers were detained.