Mayhem in Onitsha as MASSOB, Igbo youths clash

There was tense security situation in Onitsha, commercial nerve of Anambra State on Friday as members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Association of Igbo Youth, AIYO engaged themselves in a brawl. An eye witness said there were serious casualties on both sides. The reason for the physical combat in some parts of the commercial city of Onitsha, which began on Thursday and continued Friday has not been ascertained as at press time. However, the fight brought business activities to a standstill in the area. The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Benjamin Wordu, who confirmed the clash, said he personally invited the army and the navy to assist the police in stopping the crisis. He said that he was not yet aware of any casualty or arrests from both sides. Speaking on the incident, MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, and Regional Administrator for Onitsha Region 4, Chief Arinze Igbani, stated that they were aware of the clash but were yet to be properly briefed by their members. They added that they learnt that the Igbo youth were allegedly the first to swoop on the MASSOB members. Another leader of MASSOB in charge of Region 4, Special Duties, Anyanwu Josephat Chimaobi, also alleged that members of Okpoko Vigilance Group teamed up with Igbo youth and swooped on MASSOB office at Okpoko area of Onitsha and set the office and some motorcycles there on fire. He also claimed that some of their members were abducted. In a contrary reaction, the state chairman of AIYO, Emeka Ominyi Uga, and the Onitsha coordinator, Okechukwu Asolo, alleged that the clash started when some MASSOB members mounted a road block and were extorting money from the public and AIYO members tried to stop them from the extortion. He claimed that they went on rampage instead, and invaded some offices of AIYO at Onitsha North and Onitsha South and unleashed mayhem on their members. Dailypost