Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), on Thursday, reiterated its total commitment to the actualization and restoration of Biafra, warning the federal government against blackmailing the group as perpetrators of terror and violence.
In a statement issued by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, MASSOB, said it would continue to maintain its non-violence disposition and civil disobedience in its pursuit for Biafra independence, regardless of several provocations by the Nigerian security operatives pushing them to take up arms against the State.
The pro-Biafra group condemned what it described as ‘surreptitious efforts’ by the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to clampdown on pro-Biafra groups, saying the consciousness and pursuit of Biafra has reached to a point of no return.
According to MASSOB: “We started with non-violence methodology, we shall continue to maintain our principles of non-violence irrespective of several push from the security agents of Nigeria state to resort to arms struggle. We shall not succumb to the antics of our oppressors, because we respect the sanctity of human live, MASSOB shall maintain the principals of nonviolence and civil disobedience.
“MASSOB believed that the state of Biafra can be actualized through nonviolence methodology because black Americans and India achieved their freedom through non violence. We shall remain consistent, unshaken and resolute in all our approaches towards our freedom from Nigeria.
“MASSOB condemned the clandestine and surreptitious moves of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal government of Nigeria to clampdown and annihilate the leading figures of pro-Biafra independence groups.
“The Biafra self-determination struggle has reached the point of no return. The consciousness and reality of Biafra has sunk very deep in the minds and thoughts of every Igbo person irrespective of his or her political, economical, social, religious and business affiliation or service with Nigeria.
“MASSOB as the leading non-violence pro-Biafra independence group have never resorted to violence acts in the past or will ever indulge in any act of violence in the future. It is very erroneous and blackmailing to assume or ascribe an act of violence, forceful seizure of petroleum tankers and terrorism to MASSOB.
“MASSOB raises alarm that from inception of our non-violence struggle since 1999, the federal government of Nigeria had devised many blackmailing means in portraying MASSOB as a universal risk. The federal government of Nigeria have alleged many blackmailing conducts like seizure of petrol tankers, killing of security agents and possession of firearms against MASSOB just to discredit us before the international communities. Since 1999 till date, there is no evidence or proof of evidence by the federal government of Nigeria in proving that MASSOB is an unlawful organization.
“MASSOB calls the international communities and Human Rights defenders to save and protect our members from the vicious onslaught, Nigeria government have planned to unleash on the nonviolence and peaceful members of pro Biafra independence groups.”
