Alphonsus Nweze
21 July 2006
Onitsha — AT least, two persons said to be members of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were Wednesday killed and another 10 arrested by the joint military/police team in Onitsha, Anambra State in a renewed offensive against the movement.
The offensive was launched at Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru local government area of the state.
Attention of the Joint Military/Police Operation was attracted following alleged planned abduction of prominent rich men in Iyiowa Odekpe by people said to be MASSOB members who demanded ransom ranging from N500,000 to N10m.
Although, the Commissioner of Police in the state was not available for comment, a top police officer who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident.
Daily Champion however, learnt that people believed to be MASSOB members gave several prominent and rich people including, chairman of a Landlord Association of the area, whose name was simply given as Chief Agwocha ultimatum to pay them money within a specific period, or face abduction.
Chief Agwocha refused to comply and mobilized the local vigilante and youths of the area who resisted MASSOB members when they came for his abduction after the expiration of the ultimatum.
MASSOB members were said to have over-powered the local vigilante, leading to the invitation of the Joint/Military Police Team.
When they came, the MASSOB members were said to have left Chief Agwocha's house, but the Joint team stormed the MASSOB base at Iyiowa-Odekpe where at least two persons were said to have been killed and about ten of their members arrested.
When Daily Champion contacted the Commissioner of Police on his cell phone several times, a female voice, said he was too busy to answer the call.
A resident in the area told Daily Champion that rich men and landlords in the area have been leaving under fear due to threat by miscreants who allegedly go about extorting money and abducting people who fail to give them money.
Abduction of prominent rich men in Onitsha has become a common feature in several parts of the town with rich and influential men now resorting to hiding.
Only last week Police Sergeant was abducted at Fegge, Onitsha and was later found dead at Silas Works, the following day.
Several rich men in various parts of Onitsha were said to have been abducted, several millions of money and bags of rice extorted from them as a ransom.
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