[ Masterweb Reports: by Emma Elekwa] - Ahead of the October 1 Arewa youth quit notice deadline, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State Biafra (MASSOB) has declared August a month of mass return for Igbo living in the northern parts of the country.

The group said the choice of August was informed by its significance in Igbo calendar as the period for new yam festival and women's August meeting.

In a statement issued yesterday by MASSOB's National Information Officer, Samuel Edesonu, and made available to our correspondent in Awka, the group said the decision was taken at its national executive meeting presided over by MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu.

The group charged the Igbo, especially women, to persuade their loved ones, including their husbands and children to take advantage of the period to come back home, assuring that Biafra Intelligence Agency had been deployed to the northern Nigeria for monitoring of the situation.

It called on the Eze Ndigbo in the 19 Northern States to commence the compilation of names, residential addresses and villages/towns of all Igbo living in their respective northern cities, adding that such data collation of the people should end on 10th of September 2017.

The statement read in part," The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) after our National Executive meeting that was presided by our leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu resolved as follows:

"That in continuation of our earlier stand and position on the quit notice order to the people of Biafra by Arewa people which will elapse on Oct 1st, MASSOB insists and beckons on Biafrans living in Arewa land to intensify efforts in relocating their families back home.

"That MASSOB have resolved that the month of August being a significant month of special festivals of Iri ji (New yam) and Women August meeting in Igbo land, MASSOB have declared this the month of August 2017, a special month of mass return for all Igbos living in Northern Nigeria.

"That MASSOB also mandated all married Igbo women living in Northern Nigeria to start intimating their husbands about the dangers of staying in Arewa land which no longer guaranteed their safeties. They should also intensify their pressure on their husbands concerning the Mass return in this next month.

"That after the September 10th deadline for this compilation, MASSOB will embark on investigation of all the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to ascertain their levels of participation in this ancestral order.

"That MASSOB urge the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to carry out this compilation of our kinsmen data as a native and ancestry exercise. We appeal to them not to betray this acts of nobility because of their individual's interest or favor from Hausa Fulani.

"That MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu will continue undeterred in nonviolence pursuant of Biafra actualization and restoration".

I Hope the mass return will be to alaigbo and not to southwest. Since igbos hate Yorubas so much, it will be hypocritical of them to still seek refuge among people they hate with passion