The leader and founder of Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafran, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, Tuesday confirmed the arrest of his member, Mr. Jude Egwucuukeu, at a police check point with Biafran insignias, but demanded for his immediate release as the items recovered from him did not warrant his arrest and detention.
According to him, “The arrest and detention of Mr. Jude Egwuchukwu, by the Orlu police division of the Imo state command, because he was in possession of Biafran insignias, was wrong,”
In a statement signed on his behalf by his Director of Information and Senior Special Assistant to BIM/MASSOB on Media and Publicity, Mazi Chris Mocha, Uwazuruike called on the Imo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohammed Barde, to use his exalted offices to act on Mr. Jude Egwuchukwu’s release, stating that BIM/MASSOB’s activities and programmes are just and always very peaceful.
He also maintained that MASSOB members are innocent and harmless members of a non-violent organization, stressing that his group does not intend to resort to violence in the pursuit of Biafra Independence or engage in confrontation with any body now or in future.
He lamented that despite establishing the evidence before the Investigating Police Officer, (IPO), that the detained member is BIM/MASSOB member, the police still kept Egwuchukwu incommunicado at the Tiger base, Owerri, since Saturday, May 20, 2023, without trial.
Recall that Mr. Egwuchukwu was arrested on Saturday, May 20th at police check point ,opposite the local government secretariat, Orlu, on his way to attend BIM/MASSOB’s meeting at Umuaka in Njaba council area of the state, and was taken to Owerri where he is currently being detained.
He said the fact that Mr. Egwuchukwu was arrested in possession of Biafra emblems and stickers, or any other insignias, did not in anyway violate any law in the country.
Uwazuruike therefore, sdvised the police to release. Egwuchukwu or charge him to court of competent jurisdiction to allow court to prove his guilty or innocence.
