THISDAY
12 Killed in MASSOB, Securitymen ClashUwazurike remains in custody
From Christopher Isiguzo, Owerri, Charles Onyekamuo in Awka and Lilian Okenwa in Abuja, 12.06.2005
At least 12 people were yesterday, reportedly killed in various parts of the South East region of the country when the sit-at-home directive by the Movement for the Actuali-sation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), which entered its second day went violent.
But despite the sit at home order and widespread protests in the region against the arrest, detention and trial of the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, the embattled MASSOB leader may remain in detention till next year as the court yesterday adjourned trial to January 17, 2006 as the trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako, was attending the All Nigeria Judges Conference, which commenced Monday in Abuja.
In Owerri, the Imo State capital, about eight people were said to have lost their lives when soldiers and armed policemen engaged supporters of MASSOB in a battle in the city.
One of the victims was a commercial motor-cyclist who died on the spot when he collided with a bullion van while trying to escape during the commotion along Douglas Road.
Several other persons sustained various degrees of bullet injuries during the encounter in which live bullets and tear-gas canisters were used freely by the security operatives.
About four persons who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where doctors and nurses battled to extract the bullets lodged in their bodies, while a few others were taken to the nearby hospitals.
The shooting spree specifically took place at Rotobi, close to Douglas Road, where virtually all the national media houses had their offices located. Journalists were not spared and had to flee as they were battered with tear-gas canisters.
Trouble started in the city at about 10 am when some supporters of MASSOB were said to have entered into the town from Aba and Onitsha to enforce compliance, as they were said not to be happy with the level of compliance in the oriental city the previous day.
On hearing that, motorists, traders, school children, banks and other residents had to close shops apparently trying to escape the attack of the MASSOB supporters who insisted that the people must abide by the directive.
The development which made the people to scamper for safety, lasted till about 2pm as the entire city was grounded.
Apparently to ward off any resort to violence, both the soldiers and the policemen had to step in but met strict resistance from the rampaging mob, a development which led to sporadic shooting by the security operatives.
In Anambra State, the protest turned sour as a woman whose name was given by the police command in Awka as Mrs. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, a food vendor, was shot dead in the inland town area of Onitsha. Three others were also reported to have lost their lives in the city.
Anambra state police commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu confirmed the killing and said the report before him showed that she was shot by MASSOB activists who were incensed by her effrontery to open her shop in defiance of the sit at home order.
“They (MASSOB) killed one woman in inland town, Onitsha and there was riot by the residents. The only shooting incident was the killing of this woman for violating the sit at home order”, he said.
He also indicted the leadership of various markets in the state for giving the MASSOB tacit support over their activities.
“It is because the leadership of traders in the state gave MASSOB a tacit support that the shops are locked. This is because if the leadership had said, open your shops, they (MASSOB) wouldn’t have done anything”, he said.
The Police boss said over 40 MASSOB activists were arrested yesterday at different locations in the state for breaching public peace and causing inconvenience.
“This is a recent development. They turned violent and caused so much inconvenience to people. They blocked the roads, threw stones at my men. Again, they were robbing people, snatching handbags, handsets and money.
“You have every right to agitate, but you have no right to force those who didn’t want to join. They have no right to embark on the kind of enforcement drive they did in Onitsha”, he said.
Meanwhile, MASSOB leader, Uwazurike, whose detention had elicited the protests in the South East region would remain in custody till January 17, 2006 as the trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako was attending the All Nigeria Judges Conference which commenced Monday in Abuja.
After the adjournment, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, lead counsel to the seven accused urged MASSOB members who thronged the court premises to cooperate with the court and remain calm adding that only the law can get Uwazuruike out.
Federal Government on November 9 arraigned Chief Uwazurike, and six others at Federal High Court Abuja on a four-count treason charge. The other accused persons are Chibuike Nwosu, Benedict Alakwem, Chimankpa Okorocha, Kelechi Ubabuike, Ambrose Anyaso and Augustine Ihuoma.
They were accused of trying to overrun and overthrow the government through the secessionist agenda, which aims at declaring the South Eastern part of the country a sovereign state of its own, distinct from and independent of the Nigerian State.
Despite their not guilty plea to the four-count charge, Justice Nyako refused a move by their counsel, Mr. Ziggy Azike, to seek their release on bail.
Insisting that a proper motion for bail should be brought before the court, she maintained she would not accept an oral application.
Thereafter, she ordered that they be remanded in custody of the State Security Service (SSS) adding that they be allowed access to heir counsel as well as doctors and adjourned the trial to yesterday.
On the complaints of the accused persons' counsel that they were being subjected to inhuman treatment in the underground detention camp of the SSS, the judge condemned such a behaviour and said it was against the principle of presumption of innocence enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
Azike had earlier told the court that his clients were chained to the ground in the underground detention camp of the SSS where they were being held in captivity.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), who led the prosecution team, told journalists that government would not tolerate anyone that intends to destabilize the peace of the nation.
8:58:58 PM 
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