ABOUT eighteen members of the Movement For the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who allegedly held the Parish Priest of St Luanga Catholic Church in Opoko, Onitsha, Anambra State, hostage and forced him to conduct a mass to mark the 16 anniversary of the group, have been arrested by Zone 9 Command, Umuahia, Abia State.
Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9, Mr. Akila Gwary confirmed the arrests, debunking reports that the MASSOB celebration on Sunday turned bloody.
Gwary admitted that there were some clashes that led to the arrest of some members of the movement, but denied any loss of life in Onitsha or any part of the South East.
He said 35 persons were arrested in Onitsha, adding 18 of the suspects were among those who forced the priest of Luanga Catholic Church to conduct a mass for them.
“Those were the only people that were picked up by the police. There was no loss of life, there was no reason for exchange of fire, there was no reason to fire anybody. The people were arrested, taken into custody and have been charged to court yesterday,” the AIG said.
