Bombing of Pipelines: MASSOB Backs Niger Delta Avengers

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

Despite the outcry trailing the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), pro-Biafra group, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday declared “total and unflinching support” to the avengers and other self-determination groups within the Niger Delta region.

MASSOB in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu, expressed delight at the consistent blowing up of pipelines by the avengers, noting that though they (MASSOB) had adopted a non-violent approach, any approach adopted by other groups to achieve the same objective would be supported.

Madu expressed satisfaction with the courage, selflessness and consistency with which the Avengers and other “Biafran warriors” were pursuing their mission. But the MASSOB leader said blowing up of oil pipelines by NDA, “shows and proves the positiveness and acceptability of Biafra by our brethren across the Niger. It also rubbished the earlier diversionary, cowardice, stupid and negative comments/statements and position of some leaders of ethnic nationalities of the South-south who were brainwashed by Hausa Fulani Yoruba oligarchies against Biafra.”

“The activities of the current Niger Delta Warriors are a natural confirmation that Biafra stretches towards the gulf of Guinea. The natural inhabitants and indigenous people of these lands are Biafrans by birth but Nigeria by citizens.

MASSOB has made it open that we want Biafra though we chose non-violence approach; we shall also support every genuine and legitimate methodology and approach chosen by any group towards Biafran self-determination,” he noted.

According to the statement, it is because of the non-violence approach of MASSOB that the Nigerian security forces have killed thousands of MASSOB members and other groups’ members since 1999 when the current struggle started.

“These extra judicial killings of non-violence and unarmed Biafra agitators have gone unchecked by Nigerian Government and international watchdogs against human rights abuses, brutalities, genocides and pogroms including the United Nations.”

The MASSOB leader said Nigeria and her likes understand only the language of violence.

Meanwhile, the MASSOB leader has said even though he instructed MASSOB members to mark the anniversary of Biafra in churches and their homes quietly, the Nigeria security forces still attacked and arrested some of them in their churches.

He said some of those arrested and arraigned have been released after meeting the bail conditions, while others are still struggling to meet the bail conditions.

Though he did not give a breakdown of the figure of those released and those yet to be released, Madu stressed that they were not perturbed by the incarceration since they were ready to pay even the ultimate price in order to achieve the freedom of Biafrans from Nigeria.