The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has berated the leader of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, for saying that Biafra will be actualized without gunshots.

The group disagreed with Uwazuruike, its founder and former leader, who was expelled on November 30, 2015, saying that it has lost about 1,000 members through gunshots by Nigerian security agents, in addition to hundreds of deaths of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) through the same gunshots in many cities of the South-East and South-South.

MASSOB Leader Uchenna Madu said in a statement issued on Thursday in Awka: “How can Uwazuruike who claimed to be championing the cause of Biafra confidently and boldly declare that Biafra will be actualised without gunshots, what other gunshots is he referring to?

“Is he referring to the former war of 1967-1970? He has no regard for the people that died through these gunshots, is it because his children and wife who are enjoying the comfort of his ill gotten wealth abroad have never experienced gunshots?

“Nigeria has already declared war against the people of Biafra. We have lost thousands of our people through gunshots by Nigeria Army, Police, DSS, Armed Fulani herdsmen, Islamic fundamentalists, Nigeria Custom Service, etc.

“MASSOB knows that Uwazuruike will not want or like Biafrans rise in defence of themselves or engage in a war with Nigeria because he doesn’t want to lose his numerous investments in Owerri, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja.

“Our people are in detention, many are lost, maimed and killed by gunshots of our oppressors, yet a forgotten person said there will be no gunshots.”

The group also said that they have resolved not to disrupt next year’s National Census exercise, explaining that the event that took place during the last exercise was meant to showcase their strength.

MASSOB expressed regret that they were misunderstood by Ndigbo on their position during the 2006 National Census when MASSOB urged Biafrans to boycott the exercise which ended up with a very low turnout.

Madu said in the statement: “The 2006 National Census exercise was part of the yardsticks for MASSOB to showcase our strength, popularity and acceptance of Ndigbo.

“Also our primary aim of opposing the last Census was to draw the attention of the international community including the United Nations to the plight of Biafrans.

“Though the low turnout of South east during the last census exercise was used by our enemies and Nigeria government to undermine and short-change the status of Ndigbo in Nigeria, it is part of our sacrifice for Biafra and MASSOB is not regretting it.

“As every revolutionary struggle for independence has its methodology and can adapt to any opportunity that will yield positive results, MASSOB is considering allowing next year’s National census exercise because of the intervention of some prominent Igbo leaders and with the conditions MASSOB will outline which includes inclusion of religion to ascertain the actual number of Muslims, Traditionalists and Christians.

“The inclusion of religion will also enable us to know the number of Oriental Sects and religions in Nigeria.

“Another condition is inclusion of ethnicity which will immensely assist in knowing the total number of indigenous people that comprises their tribe in Nigeria. It will also help in putting to rest, the ethnic arguments of the largest Nigerian ethnic group or the major and minor tribes.”

MASSOB also insisted that during the coming census exercise, every citizen residing outside his/her state of origin must be allowed to leave for his/her state for the counting adding that it will create room for knowledge of the exact population of each state. This is how census is conducted internationally.”

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