Biafra themed newspapers seized as DSS raids vendors in Asaba

Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) Friday raided newspaper vendors in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The raid led to the seizure of over 1000 tabloids and newspapers having affiliation with the Biafra movement.

Over 1,000 copies of Biafra-related tabloids such as Biafra Times, Biafra Star, Biafra Rising Sun, Biafra Voice, Biafra Journal and Biafra Trust were confiscated in a city wide raid.

The raid that sent free readers of newspapers on their heels was said to be an ‘order from above’ by the DSS operatives.

Read also: DSS arrests terror, kidnapping suspects

A newspaper distributor, who lamented the raid, said sales have dropped because her vendors are afraid to work.

She said: “They (DSS officials) were on a dangerous mission. They came with rifles of different shapes and in their usual black-black uniform. I wanted to run but one of them aimed his gun at my leg. At this point, I had to stop. They ransacked my newspapers’ stand and collected all those that have Biafra as their mastheads.”

Though the operatives refused to state the reason behind the raid, it is believed that it may be connected to recent statements by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, who resurfaced in Israel after more than a year of escaping from the country.

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