MASSOB Loyalists Clash with the Police in Owerri.

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and Late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu opening a Biafra House in Washington, D.C., September, 2011.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB) loyalists, today in Owerri clashed with  a detachment of armed security personnel from Imo State police command, leaving many injured.

An eyewitness said the MASSOB loyalists came to Owerri, clad in their uniforms, sang songs as they marched towards the city centre of Owerri in more than 500 commercial vehicles of varying sizes to celebrate Biafran Day.

It was further gathered that as the MASSOB loyalists marched into the busy Owerri-Port Harvourt highway, when the police personnel ordered them to stop but the order was disregard the order.

“As soon as MASSOB loyalists marched into Owerri-Port Harcourt highway, the police ordered them to disperse, but the order was largely ignored by the people. The police then fired teargas canisters to disperse them which now generated instant stampede, which resulted in injuries” the witness said.

Though it was not clear if anybody died in the process or how many people were arrested by the police, but many sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Meanwhile, MASSOB has recently expressed its loyalty to the former president Goodluck Jonathan and said it had no regret backing him in his failed re-election bid.

The leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who declared in an address delivered during the ceremony to mark this year’s Biafra Day in Owerri, said: “The Goodluck Jonathan presidential election followed the pattern of the Biafra-Nigeria civil war. It highlighted the war has not ended. It was a war between the former Eastern Region and Nigeria.”

“This singular gesture has made the struggle for Biafra stronger again. We remain proud of our support for Dr. Jonathan and we promise to continue to support our brothers in their future endeavour.

“The Biafra project has formed the outlook of our people over the years. Because of the project, our people have been massacred in their millions. Our detractors brought enmity between Ndigbo and their brothers in the South-South.

"The seed of discord cost us our first attempt at independence, as well as brought distrust between us and our brothers.’’ the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike said.