MASSOB: Police release 87-year-old priest, 5 others arrested in Anambra

Anambra State police have released seven people, including a Catholic priest who was arrested a few days ago by security personnel for agitating for Biafra.

The arrested individuals were accused of belonging to Chief Raph Uwazuruike’s Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, or MASSOB.

They include Rev. Fr. Samuel Aniebonem, 87-year-old; Chief Sylvester Dinyelu, and five others.

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There was jubilation in Awka and Onitsha, on Sunday, following their release.

It was confirmed by the Director of Information and Senior Special Adviser to BIM-MASSOB on Media and Publicity, Mazi Chris Mocha, in a statement made available to reporters in Awka.

According to Mocha, “While it is a right for the oppressed peoples to agitate for independence, the peaceful method has remained the only panacea for the achievement of the self-determination for Biafra.”

He urged their members to remain consistent, resolute and steadfast by following Uwazuruike’s footsteps, which according to him, was the only way through which the state of Biafra could be achieved.

MASSOB: Police release 87-year-old priest, 5 others arrested in Anambra

FRSC goes tough on truckers after Delta fatal road accident

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu, has directed all commanding officers to ensure only tankers that meet safety standards are allowed to ply the highways.
He also called on fleet operators, especially owners of tankers conveying inflammable products to ensure compliance with minimum safety standards by installing safety valves (anti spill) in their vehicles.

A statement by Bisi Kazeem,
Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer at the FRSC headquarters, Abuja, said the measure “is to eradicate all incidences of mishap resulting from lack of safety valves in tankers.
“The caution came following a fatal crash that occured on Ologbo Bridge, on the Benin/Sapele expressway, Delta State, Sunday October 1, 2023 at 0100HRS.
“The dual crash involved 15 different categories of vehicles. The affected vehicles are a Toyota Hiace bus, two Ford buses, a Volkswagen Passat, two J5 Peugeot buses, one Daylong Motorcycle and eight tankers.”
The FRSC statement said from the report obtained through its rescue team, a total of 15 people all male adults were involved.
“Out of this number, seven people got injured, while eight victims were burnt beyond recognition.
The truck ladened with Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), coming from Warri, Delta State, fell on the highway and spilled the PMS product on the road, thereby leading to an explosion that gutted the aforementioned number of vehicles and the 15 male victims,” it stated.
It quoted the Corps Marshal as calling on owners and operators of tankers to comply with all safety standards set by the government on the operation of that category of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
Biu reportedly “directed Commanding Officers to ensure that tankers that do not meet safety standards are not allowed to ply the highways.”
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BREAKING : Tanker explosion claims over 20 lives along Warri – Benin highway

A tanker conveying petroleum product has exploded along the ever-busy Warri-Benin highway.

The incident which occurred on Sunday morning at Koko junction in Warri North Government Area of Delta State, is said to have claimed about 20 lives.

The explosion was said to have resulted from a spark from faulty vehicle when some individuals were busy scooping fuel that spilled from the tanker.

It was learned that among the dead were a pregnant woman, children, and some elderly persons.

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An eye witness, who preferred anonymity, said the tanker fell and spilled its contents on the road and some persons rushed to scoop fuel despite being warned by drivers and security men who had stormed the scene after they learnt the tanker had fallen.

“We tried to prevent them but the youths threatened to beat us up telling us it’s their community. They came in their numbers carrying all sorts of containers and when the explosion happened around 12:15 am this morning we all fled.

“You can see dead bodies on the ground, some of them ran into the forest as I speak some dead bodies have been removed, I counted over 20 bodies” the eye witness who identified himself as Yusuf said.

More details to follow….

BREAKING : Tanker explosion claims over 20 lives along Warri – Benin highway