Emene 21: It was an execution not a clash, says MASSOB
…alleges 2023 connection The leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the African Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the killings of 21 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) last Sunday at Emene in Enugu state. The group which described the killing as ‘callous and unwarranted’ maintained that it was a premeditated execution and not a clash as the security forces want to convey to the public. It added also that the attack cannot be divorced from the 2023 election and the growing clamour for a President of Igbo extraction, noting that politicians of the South-East may after all ultimately be the real target of the attack. MASSOB’s national leader who signed the statement, Comrade Uchenna Madu said it would be ungodly to mislead the public to think that the killing of the IPOB members was caused by a clash instead of the premeditated execution it is. Madu said: “It is the worst case of barbarism and primitive reactionary mass slaughter by the combined security forces of Nigeria against unarmed civilians perceived to be enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari and his killer herdsmen kinsmen. “The venom that was unleashed on the young Igbo boys mostly of the Christian faith was a reflection of the pathological hatred of Ndigbo and Christians in general by the Buhari administration. ” This act of mass murder affirms our earlier warning of a conspiratorial plot to undermine the political emancipation of Ndigbo in Nigeria.” The MASSOB leader said it was a well-known fact that all pro-Biafra groups including MASSOB, IPOB, BIM and others are non-violent and unarmed groups. “It is also on records that none of these groups have indulged in any act of terrorism, violence or killings. Why should the Nigerian security forces embark on such murderous mission only to turn back to blackmail the unarmed members of IPOB that they engaged in shootout with agents of DSS that led to the combine security forces of Nigeria to heavily descend on them in a war-like fashion at their meeting venue at Emene, Enugu on Sunday which resulted on the death of innocent and defenceless citizens.” He continued:” What happened in Enugu on Sunday between IPOB and combined security forces of Nigeria was not a clash or a confrontation but a pre-planned acts of terrorism and brutal execution orchestrated by the presidency to inflict terror on the region and undermine the rising clamour and support for Nigeria president of Igbo extraction. “They fronted the DSS to provoke the unarmed members of IPOB to an assault but IPOB members declined to fall into their trap, but because it was already an authorized mission that must be executed, the DSS opened fire on defenceless citizens, the police, army and Air Force immediately joined them in the brutality of IPOB members and terrorized the inhabitants of Enugu city.” MASSOB also noted that the Igbo political leaders irrespective of their political party or affiliation are the main target of this latest assault. “It is against the political emancipation of Ndigbo in Nigeria ahead the 2023 general election. It is all about wounding the morale of Igbo socio-political leaders. It is about creating fears in the populace of Ndigbo towards 2023. Ndigbo must rise now in defence of our father land. An injustice to an Igbo person is injustice against all Igbos irrespective of political differences”, the MASSOB leader stressed.