MASSOB Accuses Delta Police of Killing 7 Members, Injuring 96

Movement for the Actualization of
Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on
August 8, 2013, accused Delta State Police
Command of killing seven of its members in
two separate raids allegedly carried out by
an anti-riot policemen and local vigilante
operatives in Delta State.
According to MASSOB, the raid, which started at
Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra State,
resulted in arrest and detention of one Ndubuisi
Nwosu, a MASSOB chieftain now believed to be
held in Cell 4 at the Anambra State Special Anti-
Robbery Squad, SARS, headquarters, Awkuzu. The
group said the raid spread to Delta State where the
latest onslaught allegedly took place.
Mr. Mazi Chris Mocha, the Media Assistant to Chief
Ralph Uwazuruike, revealed the statement in which
the mentioned accusation was contained.
Mr. Mocha also reported that after the raid at
MASSOB regional office at Omelugboma in Oshimili
local government area of the state, during which
the seven members were shot dead on the spot, a
similar operation was repeated on August 7, 2013.
He said: "Seven persons were shot dead on the
spot, while over 96 others sustained various
degrees of injuries arising from bullet wounds."
The victims of the assault were identified by
MASSOB as Luke Okonta, Nathaniel Okosieme,
Ephraim Okocha, Okey Innocent, Akaliese
Aniemena, Joseph Oroni and Miss Blessing
Uwechue.
Mr. Mocha also named the people who were
arrested. The list included more than 103 names.
The speaker also said the police squad also
removed property from the MASSOB office,
including a computer set, Biafran currency
(pounds) and a generating set, before vandalizing
45 plastic chairs in the office and making away
with the sum of N50,000 which would have been
used to settle the MASSOB office rent.
Mr. Mocha alleged that after the police team had
left the scene, the local vigilante operatives took
their own turn in the looting exercise as they
embarked on a house-to-house search and looting
of personal property belonging to MASSOB
members in the area, claiming that they were
acting on the instruction of the police
commissioner.