Pro- Biafra group protests in Umuahia

Pro-Biafra protesters yesterday, carried their release- Nnamdi-Kanu protest to Umuahia, the Abia State capital and the home-town of Nnamdi Kanu, marching through the major streets of the city, but under the watch of security agencies.

The protesters were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, demanding the release of the promoter of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested by the Department of State Security, DSS, over alleged anti-Nigerian government comments on radio Biafra.

The march in Umuahia was part of the threat by the pro-Biafra groups to take the protest to all the states of the South East before going to Abuja if Kanu was not released.

However, economic and social activities were not disrupted as offices, markets and shops remained opened and went about their normal business, numbering about 500. The protesters peacefully marched through Isi Court in Umuahia South council through Aba and Umuwaya, as Bende and Enugu roads as they were guarded by pick-up vans filled with army personnel.

They marched around the city, carrying the portrait of Kanu and the Biafran flag while chanting songs of freedom.

Meanwhile, before the arrival of the protesters, a combined team of security agencies including police, army and civil defence had mounted surveillance in strategic locations in the city like the Government House and Isi Gate even as convoys of heavily armed security personnel patrolled the city with armoured personnel carriers.

Earlier before the protesters surfaced, Abia government had in radio announcement said that it received disturbing reports that some people under the aegis of MASSOB had planned to disrupt the peace of Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State, Monday, and alleged that it was being sponsored by an unnamed politician.

Signed by the new information Commissioner, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, the government said: “While appreciating the rights of citizens to air their views in a democracy, government will not condone lawless acts that could impede the progress of the state.

“More so, as it has been discovered that a disgruntled politician in the state is funding the said protest march, government therefore calls on parents to prevail on their children not to join misguided elements in acts that could destabilize the progress of our state.

“The Police and other security agencies have been directed to take lawful steps to protect the peace of the state and secure lives and properties of law abiding citizens.”

Credit: Vanguard