The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) says it has uncovered plans by security operatives, especially the police, to embark on extra-judicial killing of its members since the members are always granted bail whenever they are taken to court.

Meanwhile, 48 members of the group arrested during the last week Sunday’s Celebration of the 16th Anniversary of the existence of MASSOB have been granted bail by an Umuahia court.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, the Anambra North Coordinator of MASSOB, Emmanuel Omenka, said the plot to eliminate their members on arrest became clear immediately after the release of 48 members arrested during the celebration of 16th anniversary of the existence of the movement.

According to Omenka who is also the Personal Assistance to MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, “The security operatives particularly the Nigerian Police and their DSS counterparts were annoyed that the Umuahia court granted bail to the 48 detained members and now plan to kill us in the night or any time they arrest our members since the court has disappointed them by not jailing those arrested during the celebration of our 16 years of existence.”

The Anambra North Coordinator who was flanked by his Director of Information, Charles Igbokwe, revealed that out of the 48 released members, 42 were arrested from Anambra state while six were from Imo State.

“We are still looking for the where-about of one member, Christopher Nwafor who was wearing MASSOB uniform during the celebration that day, the police should tell us his where-about, we fear that police has killed him if not they should tell us where he is.”

In a swift reaction to the arrest and purported constant

Killing of MASSOB members, a factional MASSOB group that claimed to be the authentic MASSOB led by former Director of Information to MASSOB under Chief Ralph Uwazuruike before they fell out, Mr. Uchenna Madu accused Chief Uwazuruike of sacrificing his members for selfish reasons.

Madu who is spokesman of his group, said: “Our faction sympathises with the brainwashed and hypnotised members of Uwazuruike faction who stupidly died and or were detained on the occasion of celebrating the 16 years anniversary and after police invasion of Uwazuruike’s residence.”

•Photo shows MASSOB activists during a protest march.