The leadership of the Biafra Independence Movement and Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra said police raided its regional office along Awkuzu/ Otuocha Road, Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the Anambra State.
The group said the pictures of the late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Chief Raph Uwazuruike, were dismantled, 16 plastic chairs and office documents carted away by the police.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to BIM-MASSOB on Media and Publicity, Chris Mocha, on Wednesday, adding that the police operatives invaded their office on Wednesday.
Mocha added that an 87-year-old member of the group, Chief Sylvester Dinyelu, 66-year-old Chief Beka Udemefuna and 53-year-old Amauche Ode, were also arrested by the police.
He further alleged that the arrested members of the pro-Biafra movement were taken to the Criminal Investigation’s Department CID annex at Awkuzu.
The statement read, “The members of BIM-MASSOB were seated in the office at Ifitedunu when the heavily armed policemen numbering over five arrived at the office in the evening and shot sporadically into the air which led people living around the area to scamper to their safety.
“The arrested members were handcuffed, late Dim Emeka Ojukwu and Chief Ralph Uwazuruike’s enlargement photographs, 16 plastic chairs, and a register belonging to the region were recovered and taken away to the former special anti-robbery squad, Awkuzu, Anambra state.
“The non-violence group demands for their immediate release from the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department, Annex, Awkuzu, or to bring them to court if they committed any offence.
“The arrested members are very peaceful people having belonged to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike’s BIM-MASSOB that have not constituted a security risk to the state.”
When contacted to confirm the development, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, simply said, “Thank you for the information.”
But a senior police officer, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the development.
The source said the command was not ready to give any of such groups a chance to continue terrorising the state for no reason whatsoever.
The senior officer said the police were still on the hunt for those who are trying to make Anambra ungovernable.