Business activities went uninterrupted, as police suppress Pro-Biafra rally in Aba

Business activities were uninterrupted, Monday, in Aba, as the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police, successfully suppressed a peaceful rally by pro-Biafra groups, who converged on the commercial hub of Abia State, to celebrate Biafra Day.

The protesters, BusinessDAY gathered, were to join their counterparts in Onitsha, Anambra State for the celebration, before they were dispersed by the police.

It was also learnt that other members of the group, who had earlier converged on the premises of the Christ the King Cathedral (CKC),on Asa Road, on sighting the Police, left the area and later met at an undisclosed location, where they were later joined by other members.

Sources also said that the protesters, who were mostly elderly men and a few young members, were forced to end the protest after police patrol team dispersed them at Milverton junction, at Aba Motor Park.

It was gathered that while the elderly ones among them retired to their various homes, some of the young men among the protesters, boarded busses to Onitsha, Anambra State, where it was learnt the “mother” of all protests was being held.

Some of the protesters, who spoke to newsmen, described the protest as successful, saying it was in support to their colleagues protesting in Onitsha, to mark this year’s Biafra day celebration.

However business and commercial activities was uninterrupted, as Police intensified patrol in the city centre and its environs.

A reliable source at the Area Command, who preferred anonymity, explained that they are intensifying patrol to ensure peace and also to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation to unleash mayhem on members of the public.

The source stated that the police and other security agencies in the city and the State in general, would not fold its arm and watch “unscrupulous” individuals truncate the existing peace in the city.

Meanwhile Uchenna Madu, leader of MASSOB, in a telephone interview, said that police had no right to stop people that were celebrating the 50th anniversary of Biafra and described their action as a sign of cowardice.

Madu explained that the annual event provides the people of the old eastern region and pro-Biafra groups, the opportunity to honour Biafra heroes and to also reflect on the journey towards the emancipation of the people of the old eastern region, who he said have suffered neglect over the years in the hands of the Nigeria Government.

He urged the Federal Government to release all Biafra agitators in their custody. According to him, “They should release Nnamdi Kanu, David Nwawuisi, Benjamin Madubugwu, Innocent Orji, Benjamin Onwuka, Sebastine Amadi and others detained at the Onitsha Prisons and every other parts of the country”.