The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Wednesday took to the road to protest the continued incarceration of 12 of its members in prison without trial.

In a peaceful protest staged in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, the group urged Governor Willie Obiano and the international human rights groups to facilitate the release of its members languishing in prison.

Addressing journalists after the protest, the Anambra South Zonal leader, Chief Arinze Igbani said that, while 12 of their members had remained in prison custody without fair hearing, four others had been denied bail four years after they were arrested.

He said: “We are not happy with the way the judges are handling our case; a case of a non-violence group with no record of offence committed.

“Our members are languishing in jail without trial for over four years now.

“They were arrested and pushed into prison without any attempt to hear their case in court till date just to humiliate MASSOB/Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) freedom movement.

“We are not happy that Justice P. N. Otti of the Ogidi High Court had refused to sign the bail condition met for four members."

He called on the international community, especially Amnesty International, civil society organisations and all human rights groups to intervene in securing the freedom of its detained members.

Igbani urged Obiano to recall the judge from vacation to release the members saying: “If the judge fails to sign the bail, MASSOB/BIM will mobilise a non-violent protest all over the state to further press home our demand.”

On the Governorship election in the state, the group criticised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for campaigning against the conduct of the poll.

According to him, MASSOB/BIM, through the order of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, had said that election must hold unless the people involved did not want to.

Continuing, he said: “IPOB thinks the struggle for Biafra is about causing confusion. But it is about bringing a nation for its people.

“The issue of Anambra governorship election or the position of the Nigerian government alone cannot determine the independence of Biafra.

“The international community will determine how Biafra will come. So, the election should go on and peacefully.”

Some of the placards displayed during the peaceful protest read “Release Chukwuebuka Arua unconditionally, Justice P. N. Otti” and “Biafrans needs international community’s assistance to actualise the struggle for independence.” “MASSOB/BIM will maintain non-violence till the last day.”

Update news