Biafra: MASSOB expresses worry over UN ‘silence’
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has expressed concern over the silence of the United Nations and the international community on the killing of pro-Biafra protesters in the Southeast. The Nation reports that Sunny Okereafor, the national director of information, expressed worry while briefing journalists on Tuesday, March 22.
He noted that the international bodies are leaving Biafrans to their fate while condemning such injustices in other countries. “MASSOB is disturbed by the silence of the international community on happenings in Nigeria where pro-Biafra agitators are being killed. MASSOB members were massacred in Okigwe, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha and other places, but in all these, the international community has been silent. “What we now hear is that the chief of army staff said he will raise a committee to investigate the killings. How can the army be a judge in its own case? What is the assurance that justice will be served on the matter? Is this not injustice?” the group wondered.
MASSOB noted that the Cameroonian government has recently convicted over 80 terrorists, while Nigeria is still playing politics with those it arrested for terrorism. “How many of these killings have the Nigerian government investigated? It has always been the more you look, the less you see. Even on terrorism, how many suspects have been convicted? Kabiru Sokoto and others are being ferried from one prison to the other, receiving VIP treatments.” “What of the APO six where innocent Igbo traders were killed in the prime of their youth? Nobody has been convicted,” the group stated. MASSOB called on the international community to come to its aid as “Nigeria is trampling on the blood of the people of the former Eastern Nigeria.”
According to the group, the further delay may cause more killings of innocent agitators by the Nigerian security forces. Earlier this month, MASSOB attacked the Norwegian government over an alleged plot to deport its members. The group’s leader, Uchenna Madu, called on the Norwegian government to show some diplomatic and international maturity in protecting persecuted pro-Biafrans.
