Police arrest Cross River MASSOB leader, 46 others

Cross River State leader of Movement for the Actualisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Mr Samuel Okah along with 46 members of the group have been arrested by the State Police Command.

They were said to have been arrested on Monday by the divisional Police Command at Odukpani local government area during a peaceful rally.

Tribune Online learnt that members of the group arrested are indigenes of Cross River, Ebonyi and Enugu states respectively.

One of the members who did not want his name in print told newsmen at the Police headquarters in Calabar that the rally was a peaceful march meant to create awareness about the existence of the group in the state.

“The peaceful march by MASSOB was meant to sensitise the people of the state about the existence of the group.

“We embarked on a peaceful march because we were unarmed.

“We did not disturb the peace of anybody. We were surprised when the police, DSS, and other security agents arrested us”, he said.

Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo, said that 47 members of the group were arrested at Odukpani junction and brought to the state Command in Calabar for interrogation.

“We had information about the rally at Odukpani and our men swung into action and arrested them for questioning to ascertain their mission and objective.

“Once that is obtained, they would be release to go because no weapon was found on them” she said.