We'll achieve Biafra without violence, says MASSOB leader

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) has said that restoration of the sovereign State of Biafra would be achieved without violence.

It reiterated its commitment to maintaining a non-violence posture which it had adopted since the movement started 20 years ago.

A statement by MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, condemned what it described as "clandestine and surreptitious moves by President Mohammed Buhari led Federal government of Nigeria to clampdown and annihilate the leading figures of pro-Biafra independence groups".

It said, "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."

The pro-Biafra group in the statement made available to The PUNCH on Thursday maintained that it would not succumb to the antics of the government to take hardliner, added "we respect the sanctity of human life, MASSOB shall maintain the principals of non-violence and civil disobedience.

"We believe that the state of Biafra can be actualized through non-violence 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."

While it said that the Biafra self-determination struggle had reached to the point of no return, MASSOB leader said, "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 violent 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 ascribed acts of violence, forceful seizure of petroleum tankers and terrorism to MASSOB.

It added, "MASSOB raises an alarm that from the 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 has alleged many blackmailing conducts like the seizure of petrol tankers, killing of security agents and possession of firearms against MASSOB just to discredit us before the international community. 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 community and human rights defenders to save and protect our members from the vicious onslaught, Nigeria government has planned to unleash on the non-violence and peaceful members of pro-Biafra independence groups."