EMMA OGU, Owerri

This is the second invasion of the place in one week just as State Security Service (SSS) operatives in Lagos also invaded Chief Uwazuruike’s residence located at No. 22 Aji Jedudun Street, Ijeshatedo on Saturday to arrest him but he was not seen.

A similar action was carried out in Mbaise where the SSS men in Owerri took two MASSOB activists, Callistus Nwosu and Emeka Uhuoma from their homes around 5.30 a.m.

But the police in Owerri has denied any knowledge of the arrest of MASSOB leader’s just as the SSS claimed that Nwosu and Uhuoma were found to be in possession of Biafran currency and a gun. MASSOB lawyer, Mr. Chukwujeama Eze, however, has disputed it describing the arrest of the two activists as arbitrary and unlawful.

Meanwhile, Chief Uwazuruike was yet to be seen as at presstime but his Senior Security Adviser, Tochukwu Ume, told Sunday Champion that he was in the Freedom Mansion when mobile policemen led by Police Commissioner Hezekiah Dimka, stormed the place which is operational headquarters of MASSOB.

"They took us by surprise. Everyone around the Freedom House fled into the bush, but father (Chief Uwazuruike) was in the house. Till now (Saturday) we have not seen him. His jeep is parked here but his mobile phone is not ringing. We are still calling it. Our fear is whether he was arrested by them," he said.

From Lagos, wife of the MASSOB leader, Lolo Ngozi Uwazuruike, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone stated that seven men of the SSS arrived her house about 8.30 a.m. on Saturday in a navy blue Peugeot 505 wagon with registration number PF 764 GGE to arrest her husband.

She said the security operatives who were disappointed by his absence told her that their director-general ordered them to arrest Chief Uwazuruike.

"They left immediately, but they were disappointed," she said.

Police Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Mr. Isa Bala Mohammed, told Sunday Champion yesterday that he was not aware of the arrest of Chief Uwazuruike.

Asked why the command is looking for him, Mohammed replied: "Oh, you don’t know that he is trading on illegality. Someone who wants to topple an elected government, someone who wants to actualise his "whatever" through unconstitutional means. What he is doing is an illegality."

On his part, Assistant Director of Operations, SSS, Mr. Adiola Ajai said that Callistus Nwosu, one of the two persons arrested at Mbaise has been granted bail on the ground of his ill-health.

MASSOB lawyer, Mr. Eze, however, said the SSS claim that they were in possession of Biafran currency and a gun" was a mere allegation.

"It is just to give a dog a bad name in other to hang it," the SSS can go to any length to heap allegations on the activists in order to break their spirit.

"MASSOB is a non-violent organisation and possession of gun is inconsistent with their struggle. They do not carry gun," he said.

Mr. Eze further disclosed that Mr. Nwosu was released on bail following his pressure on SSS over his deteriorating ill-health and was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

The lawyer - journalist also demanded for unconditional release of the other activist, Mr. Uhuoma.

"We told them (SSS) that this man is very ill and if he dies there, we shall hold them responsible. They now granted him bail with one surety and rushed him to hospital, FMC, Owerri. They should also grant unconditional release to Emeka Uhuoma or charge him to court if they feel that he committed any offence," Eze added.