One killed, 10 injured as police, MASSOB clash in Onitsha

One person was reportedly killed yesterday in Onitsha while 10 others sustained various degrees of injuries during a clash between the police and members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB.

According to an eye witnes, trouble started when a motorist was allegedly flagged down along the Onitsha/Owerri Road in Onitsha by a police team on surveillance and as he obeyed, argument reportedly ensued between the motorist and the police.

The MASSOB members around,  who have been controlling the traffic since the yuletide season began, felt they should come to the rescue of the man and reportedly intervened. The action, it was learnt, led to heated argument which resulted in  a cladh between MASSOB and police which resulted in the death of one MASSOB member instantly.

Consequently, the MASSOB members in anger barricaded the ever-busy Onitsha / Owerri road for two hours and made bonfire with fairly used tyres, forcing traffic flow to divert to the Obosi by-pass.

The corpse of the dead MASSOB member was said to have been taken to the Awada Police Station.

Contacted on the incident, the Onitsha Police Area commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu confirmed the incident but said that trouble started when MASSOB and a rival group had a bloody clash