The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) administrator for Onitsha Area II, Mr. Edison Samuel, has denied the allegation heaped on the MASSOB members for causing riot in the Ogbaru Main Market Onitsha, including the killing of 6 persons and so many people injured.

Edison said that the leadership of the Ogbaru Main Market connived with the vigilante outfit who were alleged to be members of the MASSOB during the last yuletide for security of the market, to fight the NARTO boys away from the so-called Nwugo Motor Park.

Mr. Samuel accused the police of incapacitation to handle the whole situation during the riot, which led to the killing of 6 persons, including 5 policemen who were injured, and several other injured persons.

Any eye-witness account told our reporter that National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) office was burnt down during the incident which lasted for 2 days.

Mr. Mike Chukwu, who works at the Nwugo motor park, said that the Lagos and Northern bound passengers who came to the Upper Iweka to board vehicles for their destinations ran away for their safety as the hoodlums, disguising as the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) members went on rampage, chasing out NARTO members away from motor parks and destroying property believed to belong to NARTO.

However, police in Anambra State confirmed one person killed and five mobile policemen and several others injured.

Mr. Dennis Anyagafu, the Onitsha Area Police Commander, said that the hoodlums shot five officers who came to quell the riot, but directed our reporter for more detailed information to the new Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moses Anegbode.

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