The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) wishes to draw urgent attention of the international community to the increasing harassment and persecution of our members by Nigerian security agents.
We wish to highlight the case of Mr. Vitus Obumnaeme Ofido, a committed and non-violent pro-Biafra activist and member of MASSOB. He is the regional Director of Mobilization, Surulere region, Lagos state.
Recently, Mr. Vitus Obumnaeme Ofido was unlawfully arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command because he is a member of MASSOB. His wrongful detention was subsequently challenged, and through the intervention of civil society organizations, he was acquitted by the state high court.
However, despite this judicial victory, law enforcement officers continues to target Mr. Ofido. Some plain-clothed police officers from the Lagos State Command are actively trailing him with the intention of rearresting him. They have already attempted to effect his rearrest at his place of business, but he was fortunate enough to escape their clutches.
This alarming trend of intimidation and threats towards MASSOB members is not an isolated incident; it reflects a broader pattern of oppression against those advocating for self-determination and human rights in Nigeria.
We assert that such actions violate fundamental human rights principles and are unacceptable in a democratic society.
MASSOB is calling upon the International Human Rights Commission and other human rights organizations to intervene and put an end to this harassment. We urge these bodies to investigate the actions of the Nigerian police and hold them accountable for their unjust conduct towards our members.
We wish to reiterate our firm commitment to pursuing the inalienable rights of the people of Biafra through non-violent means. No amount of persecution—be it arrests, killings, or imprisonments—will deter our resolute pursuit of self-determination and the actualization of Biafra.
Signed,
Comrade Edeson Samuel
National Director of Information, MASSOB.