The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval
Command, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, yesterday,
described as unfounded the alleged killing of
members of the Movement of the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by operatives of
the command in Anambra State.
The command, with headquarters in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, is in charge of Anambra, Kogi, Edo,
Delta and Bayelsa states.
Ogoigbe, who spoke to newsmen at the command's
headquarters, said it became necessary for him to
personally clear the air on the rumoured killing of the
MASSOB members which he described as baseless.
Reports had alleged a violent clash between
members of the pro-Biafra group and navy
personnel in Onitsha, Anambra State, where some
members of the group were allegedly killed.
But the FOC dismissed the claim insisting that the
navy personnel only shot into the air to scare a large
number of MASSOB members who were on a protest
march towards the Onitsha head bridge as the
protesting youths had already overrun the police on
duty and did not injure, let alone, killing a soul.
His words, "No such act was ever committed. The
MASOB group was on a protest march. They overran
the policemen on duty and were coming towards the
navy personnel. As they approached, the navy fired
warning shots into the air to scare them away and
they all dashed away. Nobody died in the process.
"To our surprise, MASSOB started claiming that the
navy has killed two of their men. I don't know what
they wish to achieve with this propaganda,
fabricating stories against the navy.
"We just want all well meaning Nigerians to know
that no MASSOB member was killed in that area of
Anambra State where the navy was keeping peace
and carrying out their legitimate duties".
Also speaking, the Commanding Officer, Naval
Outpost, Onitsha, where the incident happened, Navy
Capt. Dika Kwabe, said there was no iota of truth in
the claim by MASSOB that her members were killed
by the navy.
Source: Vanguard
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