The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called on Governors Willie Obiano of Anambra State and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha to free 35 members of pro-Biafra agitators being detained in various prisons in the South East geo-political zone.

The group made the call in a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Tuesday by MASSOB National Secretary, Mr. Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke adding that 22 MASSOB members have been languishing in Awka and Onitsha prisons since April 2007, while 13 members of the Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, were being detained in Enugu Prisons since last two years over what he described as “frivolous charges of treasonable felony.”

Accotding to the statement, one of those being detained is a cripple, while two of them were females.

The statement reads: “The 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, Michael Okezie, Ikechukwu Aghari, Mmaduabuchi Asika, Chinwike Irondi and Chukwuma Kalu.

“The MASSOB members detained at Onitsha Prisons are Innocent Orji, Chukwuebuka Ikenwa, Amah Onu, Okwudiri Basil (female) and Onyekachi Orji (female), while the leader of BZM, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka and 12 others were being detained at Owerri Prisons.

“All these people have been abandoned in prison to rot away for being MASSOB members and about 15 of them need serious medical attention, including the females and the cripple.

“Several court adjournments, transfer of judges and systematic delay of trial, had been used to frustrate their release at the Federal High Court, Awka, the State High Court, Ogidi and Federal High Court, Owerri.”

MASSOB however appealed to the two governors to effect their release pointing out their aged parents were suffering psychological trauma.

The group maintained that many of the detainees were bread winners of their families hence, their incarceration has led to the withdrawal of their children from schools, while wives of some of them had abandoned their matrimonial homes.

Meanwhile, MASSOB has also restated its support for the Niger Delta Avengers following the group’s show of total commitment to the Biafra struggle.

•Photo shows a MASSOB pro-Biafra protest.

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