The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has alleged widespread persecution of its members in Nigeria, calling on the international community to intervene over what it described as continued harassment, arrests, and killings.
In a statement issued on Friday, the group’s National Director of Information, Edeson Samuel, said the leadership under Uchenna Madu is deeply concerned about the treatment of its members.
“Our members are being subjected to ongoing persecutions, killings, detentions, and victimisation in Nigeria,” the statement read.
MASSOB maintained that it remains a non-violent self-determination movement, stressing that its activities over the past 26 years have been peaceful.
“MASSOB as a non-violent self-determination advocacy group… has never engaged in criminal activities or arms struggle,” Samuel stated, while condemning what he described as “brutal actions” by Nigerian authorities.
The group called on global institutions to take urgent steps to address the situation.
“We call on the international community, including the United Nations and other human rights organisations, to intervene and put a stop to the harassment and arrests of MASSOB members in Nigeria,” he said.
The organisation also raised concerns about the safety of its members returning to the country, alleging that their fundamental rights are being violated.
“The rights of our members to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are being violated, and we urge the global community to take action to protect these fundamental human rights,” the statement added.
MASSOB further appealed to foreign governments hosting its members seeking asylum not to deport them back to Nigeria.
“We urge these countries to consider the grave dangers faced by our members in Nigeria and provide them with the protection they need,” Samuel said.
Reaffirming its stance, the group said it remains committed to peaceful agitation for self-determination, while calling for an end to what it described as systemic persecution.
“It is time for the world to stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Biafra and hold the Nigerian government accountable for its actions,” the statement concluded.
