The claim by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) that some of the bodies recently found floating on Ezu River in Anambra State were those of its members detained by the police was not a false alarm afterall.

The claim had been dismissed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Balla Nassarawa, who while addressing newsmen on February 10 swore that the command had not detained or killed any MASSOB members.

But contrary to that claim, News Express can this afternoon disclose that the police commissioner lied, as independent investigation has vindicated MASSOB.

A report released today in Onitsha, the economic hub of Anambra State by the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) did not only give details of the illegally held pro-Biafra activists but disclosed that the “nine MASSOB members (were) possibly murdered by SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) on 18^th January, 2013.”

The relevant section of the report entitled The Return of Anambra’s Killing Fields: A Criminological Evaluation Of The Ezu River Of Death & Related Tragedies Of Yesteryears (Part One) says as follows:

“Sequel to local and international enquiries coming to us in torrents over the authenticity of the claims by the leadership of MASSOB that nine of its members have gone missing in the hands of SARS and might most likely be among some 25 to 30 corpses found floating on the Ezu River of Death on 19^th January 2013, we investigated it and found the claims to be credible. The nine names are: 1. Basil Ogbu, 2. Michael Ogwa (Ogba), 3. Monday (Sunday) Omogo, 4. Philip Nwankpa, 5. Ezeh Obumneme (Ndubuisi), 6. Ebuka Ezeh, 7. Obinna Oguejioffor (Offor), 8. Joseph Udoh, and 9. Sunday Offor. They were arrested since 7^th December 2012 by the Joint Taskforce Force including the Onitsha Main Market Vigilante Service, led by one Chinenye Ihemko (Okpomkpi) and handed them over to the Onitsha CPS –SARS Unit, which transferred them to their Awkuzu Headquarters and since then, their whereabouts have not been accounted for.

“Our investigation revealed that: 1. Basil Ogbu is real. He hailed from Nsukka in Enugu State and lived at 100 Bida Road, Onitsha. He was about 25 years. His wife is Mrs. Uchenna Ogbu, a nursing mother with phone number-08064018819. 2. Monday (Sunday) Omogo is real, formerly of No.10, Minaj Street, Obosi, Anambra State. He hailed from Ohakwu LGA in Ebonyi State and was about 30 years of age. His wife is Mrs. Eucharia Omogo with phone number 08109957940. 3. Michael Ogba (Ogwa) is real. He lived at Johnbosco Lane, Ugwuagba Layout, Obosi. He hailed from Ebonyi State and he was about 35 years. His wife is Mrs. Susan Ogba (Ogwa) with phone number-08135564871. 4. Obinna Oguejiofor (Offor) is real. He hailed from Umuoli-Umoji in Anambra State. He was 20 years. His mother is Mrs. Augustina Oguejiofor with phone number 08068262471. 5. Obumneme (Ndubuisi) Ezeh, age 25, is real. He lived at No. 2, Maifulani Street, Fegge, Onitsha and hailed from Amandugba in Imo State. His mother is Mrs. Phebi Oguejiofor with phone number 07031949088. 6. Ebuka Ezeh, age 27, is real. He lived at No. 5, Anaekwe Street, Fegge, Onitsha and hailed from Amandugba in Imo State. His mother is Mrs. Philomena Ezeh with phone number-08022945380. 7. Philip Nwankpa is real. He lived at Uruowulu Village, Obosi and hailed from Ezza West LGA, Ebonyi State. He was about 30 years. His wife is Mrs. Ekene Nwankpa with phone number-08133021378. The relatives of the remaining two missing MASSOB members – Joseph Udoh and Sunday Offor are yet to be traced.

“Other missing MASSOB members in the hands of SARS since November 2011 are: Uchechukwu Ejiofor (Imo State), Louis Onwe (Ebonyi State), Abel Obeka (Ebonyi State), Ikechukwu Ononye (Anam in Anambra State), Sunday Obasi and Philip Ubah (Imo State).”

News Express shall tomorrow publish the full Intersociety report signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, even as the group has promised to soon issue the concluding part of the shocking report.

•Photo: Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Balla Nassarawa.