The Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has accused the Federal Government of sponsoring mayhem in the South-East geopolitical zone.
Leader of the separatist group, Uchenna Madu made the accusation in a Tuesday statement.
The statement came amid invasion of some correctional centres and police facilities in Imo State.
The Herald had reported on Monday that more than 1,500 inmates were freed from the Owerri Correctional Centre by gunmen who also set the Imo State Police Command headquarters ablaze.
A day after, unknown gunmen also hit the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters also in Imo State, setting it ablaze.
Immediate-past Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu visited the affected police facility in Owerri, calling on his men to resist any similar attempt on police facilities with “maximum force”.
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In his statement, Madu said intelligence gathered by the group showed that the attacks were perpetrated by “protected bandits” sponsored by the Federal Government.
He said that the purpose was to cast Biafra agitators as violent and justify FG’s planned attack on them.
“The leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra has condemned the incessant criminal terrorism and security deterioration in Igboland.
“MASSOB condemned the terrorist attack on Chukwuma Soludo at Isuofia; we equally condemned the unwarranted killings of Ebonyi State indigenous citizens by Fulani terrorist herdsmen. MASSOB condemned in totality the breaking of Owerri prison by the so-called unknown gunmen.
“How can untrained and amateurs with no military training overpower the entire security apparatus of Nigeria in the South-East? Why is it that there was no security resistance during the breaking of Owerri Prisons and Imo State Police headquarters in an operation that lasted more than one hour?
“Nigeria military cantonment, Obinze, Owerri, is seven minutes’ drive to the scenes of the crime; Imo State MOPOL base is three minutes’ drive to the scenes of the crime, but no resistance from security agencies.
“The terrorist attacks in Owerri are part of the ongoing destructive measures by the President Muhamadu Buhari-led administration to discredit and blackmail the pro-Biafra organisations to create an erroneous impression that Biafrans are waging war against Nigeria. Igboland is the most peaceful region.
“MASSOB advises Governor Hope Uzodinma to stop heaping blames on IPOB or ESN or any other pro-Biafra organisation. Pro-Biafra agitators are not responsible for all the terrorist activities in Igboland,” Madu said.