Addressing newsmen after the protest, the Anambra South Zonal leader of the group, Chief Arinze Igbani, said four members of the group were denied bail while 12 others are still in detention since being arrested four years ago.
Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state over the continuous detention of 12 of its members in prison without trial.
The group also urged the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and international human rights groups to facilitate the release of its members.
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Release Chukwuebuka Arua unconditionally, Justice P.N. Otti,” demanded the recall of the judge from vacation, threatening to mobilize a non-violent protest all over the state if he fails to sign the bail.
Addressing newsmen after the protest, the Anambra South Zonal leader of the group, Chief Arinze Igbani, said four members of the group were denied bail while 12 others are still in detention since being arrested four years ago.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the manner the case was being handled by the Judges, particularly when viewed from the non-violence disposition of the persons involved.
“Our members are languishing in jail without trial for over four years now. They were arrested and pushed into prison without any attempt to hear their cases in court till date just to humiliate MASSOB/Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) freedom movement.
“We are not happy that Justice P.N. Otti of the Ogidi High Court had refused to sign the bail condition met for four members,” Igbani said.
He called on the international community, especially Amnesty International, civil society organizations and all human rights group to intervene in securing the freedom of its detained members.
