Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) advocates the independent state of Biafra (AFP 2 Dec. 2000). It is lead by Ralph Uwazurike, a 41 year-old lawyer (Dawn 29 May 2000). Biafra was the secesssionist state set up by the ethnic Igbo people of southeast Nigeria in 1967 during the country's three-year civil war. The leaders "surrendered after being defeated by the Federal government in 1970 in a protracted 30-month civil war in which over one million people are reported to have died ( Dawn 29 May 2000).

MASSOP reportedly intended to declare the independent state of Biafra on 27 May 2000 (Post Express 12 May 2000; 20 Apr. 2000). According to Dawn, Uwazurike claims that the need for a "New Biafra" is motivated by the "unprovoked and organized killing of our people in Nigeria" (29 May 2000.).

Thirty years ago there arose the need to save our people from total annihilation, but that attempt did not materialise, rather, we lost over one million of our people in the process. Today, the Igbos are faced with a similar situation and the unprovoked and organised killing of our people in Nigeria have remained unabated...No amount of threat, intimidation or divide and rule tactics can change our resolve...although some Igbos have their reservations over the actualisation of the 'New Biafra,' the cause for which over one million Igbos died would not be in vain...independence is different from overthrowing of government. Independence goes with negotiation, we are negotiating independence" (ibid.).

However, an umbrella group of all Igbo organizations in Nigeria, Ohanize Ndigbo, as well as Odumegwu Ojukwu who led the 1967 secessionist struggle, does not support the activities of MASSOB and has dissociated itself from MASSOB (AFP 2 Dec. 2000; Post Express 12 May 2000; Dawn 29 May 2000). In a letter to the Inspector-General of Police and National Security Adviser, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Chief Ben Nwabueze, denounced MASSOB and its leader, reportedly stating that,

Ohanaeze hereby unequivocally denounces and dissociates itself from the call for the revival of Biafra and from any plan to that effect by some Igbos calling themselves MASSOB...we are firmly committed to one, indivisible Nigeria and therefore totally opposed to secession (Post Express 12 May 2000)

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and other MASSOB members have been arrested several times (Post Express 20 Apr. 2000; Vanguard 29 Aug. 2000; The News 21 Sept. 2000 ). On 24 May 2000, 54 people were arrested "for hoisting a Biafran flag in Aba, an action considered as an attempt to topple the Federal Government administration" (Vanguard 29 Aug. 2000; The News 21 Sept. 2000). Eleven others were arrested in Abia, also on charges of "unlawful assembly" and "felony." If convicted, the accused persons face a one-year sentence for unlawful assembly and life imprisonment for treasonable felony (ibid., 29 Aug. 2000). Apparently, Uwazurike had narrowly escaped death in Lagos when "unidentified gunmen attacked his car along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway" (PM News 18 May 2000). He arrested in Lome, Togo during the 36th Organization for African Unity (OAU) Summit meeting; he had allegedly gone to Lome to present his case for the actualisation of Biafra to the World(Vanguard Daily 17 July 2000; ibid; 12 July 2000). He further claimed that 2000 members of MASSOB were in being detained without cause or trial in Nigeria (ibid.).

According to the Vanguard Daily of 29 August 2000, the Magistrate of Umahia dismissed the case of treasonable felony against some members of MASSOB for lack of jurisdiction and 54 others were reportedly granted bail (ibid.). However, in October 2000, MASSOB alleged that 20 of its members continued to be detained at Anambra State Police Command (ibid. Oct. 2000).

AFP reports Uwazurike's home was ransacked by security agents at the beginning of December 2000 (2 Dec. 2000). Security also ransacked a hotel and "shot up several cars, and fired into crowds in their search for him" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 2 December 2000. "Several Dead in Raid on southeast Nigerian Town." (NEXIS)

Dawn [Karachi]. 29 May 2000. Toye Olori. "Igbos Resurrect Biafra Secessionist Bid." (NEXIS)

The News [Lagos]. 21 September 2000. Uba Aham. "Nigeria: On Trial for Biafra." (Africa News/NEXIS)

P.M. News [Lagos]. 18 May 2000. Ben Eguzozie. "Nigeria: Gunmen Attack MASSOB Leader." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Post Express [Lagos]. 12 May 2000. Philip Nwosu. "Nigeria: Ohanaeze Declares Biafra Dead ... Disowns MASSOB." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 20 April 2000. Onuoha Ukeh and Okechukwu Nwokem. "Nigeria: MASSOB Leader, 50 Others Arrested." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Vanguard Daily [Lagos]. 2 October 2000. Emeka Mamah. "MASSOB Flays Continued Detention of 20 Members." (Africa News/NEXIS).

_____. 29 August 2000. "54 MASSOB Detainees." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 17 July 2000. Ikechukwu Eze. :Nigeria: MASSOB Leader to Face Trial in Togo." (Africa News/NEXIS).

_____. 12 July 2000. Ikechukwy Eze and Theophane Pativnvoh. "MASSOB Leader Arrested at OAU Summit, Lome." (Africa News/NEXIS)