MASSOB Members Force Catholic Priest to Conduct Mass

The Zone 9 Police in Umuahia, Abia state capital, said yesterday that they arrested eighteen members of the Movement For the Actualization of Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), an Igbo secessionist group, who held the Parish Priest of St Luanga Catholic Church, Opoko in Onitsha, Anambra state, hostage, forcing him to conduct a mass for their 16 year anniversary celebration.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9, Umuahia, Akila Usman Gwary, disclosed this while denying the report of a national newspaper that the Biafran 16-year anniversary, which was held on Sunday, had turned bloody.

Gwary explained that the 18 people arrested were among 35 MASSOB members the police arrested in Onitsha, Anambra state.

He said that there were no deaths and no arrests of 200 members of MASSOB as was reported on Monday.

He agreed that there were some "events", but stated that the report was not the true picture of what happened.

He said that the arrest in Anambra came on the heels of a distress call from a Catholic priest, who was being held hostage by MASSOB members that he must organize mass for their 16 year anniversary or face their wrath.

According to the AIG, it was the helpless catholic priest who called the attention of the police and on reaching there, they found 18 MASSOB members, all in their uniforms, with their flags. They were eventually rounded up.

Gwary said that they also arrested three suspects in Imo in their uniforms, flags and other exhibits.

He advised that journalists always cross check their facts on any issue concerning the police before going to press, stating:

He said that there are many charges against members of MASSOB.

He also alleged that members of the movement have been inciting the public against the government.




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