TheCable

The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has accused the Nigerian army of carrying out a genocide in Oyigbo, Rivers state.

At the posthumous birthday anniversary of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the late Biafran leader, the group also accused Nyesom Wike, the state governor, of being complicit in the alleged killings.

The army deployed soldiers in the town amid the violence that broke out after some alleged Biafran agitators clashed with security agents.

Amnesty International had said it received reports that soldiers were invading homes and that “some residents reported seeing dead bodies on the street,” allegedly shot by soldiers, but the army denied this allegation.

At the birthday anniversary held on Wednesday in Enugu, Uchenna Madu, a leader of MASSOB, warned in his address that the group would retaliate if the alleged killings did not stop.

He said: “MASSOB condemns the genocidal and atrocious activities of the Nigerian Army against the people of Biafra in Oyigbo. MASSOB described Governor Nyesom Wike’s denial of his Igbo identity as unfortunate and unstableness.

“MASSOB is begging the Federal Government not to push our members to arms conflict because the end is what nobody can tell.”

The group also described Wike’s reported denial of his Igbo identity as “unfortunate and unstableness”.

“MASSOB sues for peace and normalcy to return in Obigbo,” Madu said, adding: “We remind Gov Wike that the presidency or the cabals will never honour him for killing his people.”