NNEWI — No fewer than 11 members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, were yesterday at Nnobi and Awka-Etiti communities, Idemili South Local Government Areas of Anambra State, allegedly shot and injured by the police in a bid to disrupt their June 8 sit-at-home rally. Five others were arrested.

According to sources, the MASSOB members were in a rally at the said communities to create awareness on the need to observe June 8 sit-at-home in commemoration of six Igbo killed by the Police at Apo village, Abuja, EzuRiver, Amansea, AnambraState and others killed by Boko Haram.

Reacting to the development in a telephone chat, MASSOB’s Deputy Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, accused the security operatives, especially the police, of killing MASSOB members fighting for the actualization of a sovereign state of Biafra.

According to Mocha, “the police also took away MASSOB laptop system, N8,000 and arrested Jude Ochi, Nnamdi Ezeaka, Nelson Ugboh, Ifeanyi Eboh and others”.

Also reacting, Prince Ohaegbulem Jude of the Lagos state branch of MASSOB regretted that Igbos have been marginalized, intimidated and made to be second class citizens in a country where they are part and parcel of.

According to him, “this sit-at-home billed for June 8, 2013 is unstoppable despite the intimidations, arrests, shootings and harassments from the security operatives, Yoruba and the Hausa.”

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the incident and hinted that two DPOs led the operation but denied the allegation that some members were shot by the police.