Onitsha crisis: Why MASSOB is after us – AIYO

 

The members of Association of Youths Organization AIYO, on Monday in Onitsha reacted to the Sunday bloody clash with members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), alleging that fighters who killed 4 of their members were after them because they were gaining massive popularity and acceptability in Anambra State.

The group gave the names of the 4 AIYO members who died during the Sunday clash as one Chiemezie, Samuel, Emeka and another called Dragon. The group said many others were injured.

According to the AIYO State Coordinator, Comrade Chukwuemeka Oga, in a statement, “at about 1.30am on Sunday, MASSOB stormed our Onitsha/Owerri office with over 500 members and destroyed our office, chairs, tables, laptops and fans, and opened fire on our boys.”

Comrade Oga dismissed an earlier report that they were using a camp located in the forest, explaining that the AIYO’s office where MASSOB members attacked them is located in an open space within the environment of the Old Motor Spare Parts along Onitsha/Owerri road.

He also dismissed the report that they were kidnapping people into the forest as well as robbing and raping them, asking whether anybody has reported to the police that members of AIYO harmed anyone.  

He alleged that it is MASSOB members who are forcefully extorting money from Onitsha traders, okada riders, visitors and motorists, adding that their nefarious activities had pitched them against the people of Anambra State who have massively lost interest in MASSOB.

 “People in Anambra State have rejected MASSOB and embraced AIYO because we are law-abiding and peaceful-minded group that is why the MASSOBians are doing everything within their powers to dislodge us, they have burnt our buses and caused us a lot of damage and from the look of things we are vulnerable to them,” he added. He called on Governor Peter Obi, the police and other security agents to come to their aid and protect them from MASSOB.

In his reaction, AIYO Patron, Chief Venatius Muoneke regretted that the office both warring factions were fighting for ownership was secured by him, adding that “none of them knew how I secured the building.”

He urged the two warring factions to sink their differences and fight for the development of the Igbo nation.

Also speaking, the President, Ndigbo International Prayer Organization, Bishop Chinedu Okeke regretted that the bloody clash was a disgrace to the Igbo nation, adding that he has received calls from overseas about the clash.

He warned those who want to drag the image of AIYO founder, Chief Rommy Ezeownuka to the mud to steer clear as his aim and objective of the formation is to create employment opportunities to the teeming youths, noting that Chief Ezeonwuka is using his hard earned resources to sympathize with Igbo youths including MASSOB members to remedy their plight.