The Anambra State Police Command yesterday in Awka arrested hundreds of pro-Biafra activists who were protesting the arrest of Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu.

The protesters, who were mainly women, carried placards with various inscriptions. They marched from Amawbia to the Agu-Awka Government House.

However, as the protesters approached the Government House, the policemen on guard at the seat of power opened fire – into the air, though – to scare them away. Seeing that the protesters were undaunted by the gun shots, the police threw canisters of tear gas on them, forcing them to immediately retreat.

However, at the popular Aroma junction along the Enugu/Onitsha expressway, scores of the Pro. Kanu demonstrators were arrested by the police.

Speaking to Journalists, the Anambra State Coordinator of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ikechukwu Okoye, said that they were not protesting to cause any form of trouble but to call for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In his words, “We are marching to the state government house to plead with Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene on the matter.

“We are only freedom agitators who obey the laws of the land; this is democracy and there is freedom of speech, freedom of movement and so on.

“Why would anybody detain our leader and in the process making a demand for a N2 million bail. We have not come to fight anybody because we are peace makers.”

While confirming the arrest, the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma, said there is nothing like Indigenous People of Biafra.

He said: “Those people constituted nuisance on the high way and they were picked. Right now, I do not know the numbers that were picked, but I want to assure you that anybody who wants to disturb the peace that exists here will not go unpunished.

“We do not have any group that goes by such name, they were causing obstruction on the federal high way.”

Meanwhile, the factional leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had given solidarity to the cause of Nnamdi Kanu.

In a press statement made available to Journalists yesterday in Awka, the National Director of Information of MASSOB, Mr Uchenna Madu, said: “In the brotherhood spirit of Biafra and coalition of one stronger force of self determination, MASSOB hails Radio Biafra Director and his executives.

“Nnamdi Kanu was not suspended by Ralph Uwazuruike or MASSOB. He left MASSOB in 2009 on his own.

“Uwazuruike should close his mouth in shame in any matter concerning Biafra because Biafrans are no longer happy with him or celebrating him.”

It would be recalled that the Uwazuruike-led MASSOB had in a press statement recently disowned Kanu.

•Photo shows Anambra CP, Hosea Karma.