In a statement yesterday signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Orlando Godson Ikeokwu, the police also accused members of the movement of inflicting machete wounds on some officers.

Ikeokwu added that while some of the agitators were arrested, others took to their heels.

The statement read in part: “On July 23, 2020, at about 2015hrs, a group of persons claiming to be members of MASSOB in an attempt to snatch rifles, attacked some policemen on duty around New Owerri area and inflicted machete injuries on two of the policemen.

“Also today being July 24, 2020, a group of persons numbering about 100 claiming to be members of MASSOB, attacked a team of policemen attached to Orji Division along Owerri/Okigwe Road by the Orji Flyover.”

The hoodlums while trying to dispossess the policemen of their service rifles also inflicted machete wounds on them. However, the attack was successfully repelled with arrests made, while some others ran away with various degree of injuries.”

The statement warned the public, parents and guardians not to allow their children and wards to embark on such agitation and attack.

“In view of this, the general public is hereby warned to desist from such actions as anyone caught will be made to face the wrath of the law. Parents/guardians are advised to warn their children/wards not to allow themselves to be used to foment trouble as the command will not tolerate any act of violence anywhere within the state especially against officers and men of the force,” the statement added.

All efforts made to reach the leader of the group, Uchenna Madu, as at press time, yielded no fruit, as his phone was unreachable.

But The Guardian learnt that the members of the movement were agitating for self-determination, among others.