UWAZURIKE IN ANGER AS POLICE ARREST 41 MASSOB/BIM IN ENUGU

41 pro-Biafra agitators under the aegis of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) were on Monday arrested at different parts of Enugu state.

The agitators had stormed major locations across the State as part of their activities to mark the Biafra Remembrance Day.

Reacting to the arrest, leader of the group, Ralph Uwazurike, who expressed anger over the development, described it as unwarranted.

Uwazuruike insisted that the police should explain why they would not release his members, adding that “those calling for sit-at-home were cowards.‎”

‎However, spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest, said the pro-Biara agitators were earlier warned not to embark on any violent protest.

He said the BIM members defied the order and that the police had to arrest them.

Amariaizu in his statement;

No fewer than fourty one persons suspected to be members of the Biafran Independence movement (BIM) were nabbed by security operatives of the command from various parts of Enugu metropolis in the morning of Monday 22/5/15 based on intelligence information that they were about to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace. Investigations into their alleged activities have begun.

He said the police earlier warned that any;

Plans by some group masquerading under the aegis of Biafran Independence Movement (BIM) amongst others, to embark on violent protest within the state and its environs which is capable of disturbing the already existing peace in the state, as hoodlums may as well cash in on that to wreck havoc on the law abiding citizens of the state.

In view of the above, the command advises on the need for members of the public to be law abiding by shunning any act capable of bringing them in conflict with the law as anyone caught will be made to face the consequence in accordance with the relevant sections of the law. The command advises members of the public to go about their normal lawful businesses.

National Director of Information, MASSOB, Comrade Samuel Edeson, said those arrested were not their members "they are members of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) observing their own Biafra day".