The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said that its members are being persecuted in Nigeria.
The spokesman of the group, Mr. Edeson Samuel, made this allegation in a statement.
Samuel described MASSOB as a non violent self-determination, pro Biafra agitation movement, which has existed for over 26 years, noting that it has never engaged in criminal activities or arms struggle.
The movement condemned the brutal actions of the Nigerian authorities against its members.
It urged the international community, including the United Nations and other human rights organizations, to intervene and put a stop to the harassment and arrests of its members in Nigeria.
The group also called for global intervention on the harassment and arrest of members returning back to Nigeria.
It added that the rights of its members to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are being violated, appealing to the global community to take action to protect these fundamental human rights.
The group equally urged foreign countries that have asylum-seeking MASSOB members to ensure their safety and not deport them back to Nigeria, where their lives may be at risk.
“We urge these countries to consider the grave dangers faced by our members in Nigeria and provide them with the protection they need.
“It is time for the world to stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Biafra and hold the Nigerian government accountable for its actions.
“We remain committed to the peaceful pursuit of Biafran self-determination and calls for an end to the persecution of our members,” the statement said.
However, the leader of MASSOB, comrade Uche Madu, who corroborated the above statement, during an interview with Diaspora Digital Media, said that the claim of their members being persecuted in Nigeria is true and there are empirical cases to prove it.
According to him, hundreds of their members are in various prisons in Nigeria, while many others cannot be accounted for after an encounter with the authorities.
He cited a case of one of their member, Kalu Okechuknu Frank, who is currently in exile.
Madu said Okechukwu fled the country for being actively involved with MASSOB. His home and business came under attack. Several attempts were also made on his life by the authorities.
Madu said: “We have one of our member named Frank Okechukwu Kalu, an indigene of Abia State, who joined MASSOB in 2009. He was a coordinator of the group. Okechukwu was in charge of sensitization of MASSOB members in Imo and Abia State.”
Speaking further, he said attempts were made by the authorities to arrest Okechukwu.
“On several occasions, attempts were made to take Okechukwu into custody following his commitment to the group. He was shot and his business attacked. Do you also know that this young man was detained for days, where he was unfortunately assaulted?”.
“So, whenever I say our members are being persecuted, I’m speaking the truth.”
He added that this constant persecution pushed Kalu Okechukwu Frank to go on exile.
“This situation forced Okechukwu Kalu to run away from Nigeria just to save his own life.”
Madu however, appealed to the international community to call the Nigerian government to order, adding that the persecution of their members must stop.
