MASSOB breeding kidnappers, armed robbers –Police

The Police in Anambra State does not believe that the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is all about self-actualization, but that it is also a tool by some to harass innocent citizens and perpetuate illegality.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Karma yesterday in Onitsha accused the group of breeding criminals engaged in robberies and kidnappings.
The police boss while parading 43 MASSOB members in Awka observed that there had been increase on the rate of assault on innocent people in the state in recent times by members of the group, alleging that most of those attacked were dispossessed of their personal effects such as cash, mobile phones and hand bags, among other things.
Among members of the movement paraded were workers on building construction sites, traders and motor park operators.
According to him, members of the movement were arrogating to themselves so much authority as if they were acting on government’s directives and made it clear that the group did not have the backing of the law, or that of government to engage in such activities.

Read also: We didn’t kill any MASSOB member, says Navy

Mr. Karma also disclosed that the police will not give the MASSOB any opportunity to operate in the state because they are breeding criminals who will go into kidnapping and armed robbery.
Speaking during his visit to the Police Area Command, Onitsha; Central Police Station, Inland Town Police Division, Fegge Divisional Police, all in Onitsha, the Police Commissioner said that over 50 members of MASSOB who were arrested on Sunday have been moved to Police Zonal Command Umuahia, popularly known as Zone 9.
He said that 27 of them were arrested in a church in Okpoko where they allegedly held a Catholic priest hostage to pray for them, while 28 were arrested in Nnewi.
The police Commissioner also proclaimed ban on the police in the state from following revenue agents and collectors in the name of security.
He warned people who are fond of using the police in achieving their selfish ends in civil matter to desist from doing so and to “keep police out of civil matter as it is not part of their job. Anybody who has a civil matter to sort out should go to court.”

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