Posted by EMMA OGU, Owerri and VINCENT ADEKOYE, Benin on
SECURITY operatives in Owerri, the Imo State capital, have threatened to arrest and prosecute those trading with the outlawed Biafran currency currently enjoying high patronage in the area at N270 to the pound (Biafra).
SECURITY operatives in Owerri, the Imo State capital, have threatened to arrest and prosecute those trading with the outlawed Biafran currency currently enjoying high patronage in the area at N270 to the pound (Biafra).
But leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike in a swift reaction, said his group cannot be intimidated and declared the currency, legal tender.
His declaration came as a middle-aged man and suspected member of the Edo State chapter of MASSOB yesterday caused a stir in Benin City, the Edo State capital, as he swallowed a Biafra currency note.
Assistant Director of Operations State Security Service (SSS) Mr. Adeola Ajai and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Isa Bala Mohammed who spoke to Daily Champion on Tuesday stated that the Federal Government had given directives for arrest and prosecution of those introducing the currency.
They, however, stated that no one had been arrested in connection with that yet.
While Ajai claimed that the SSS has monitored the source and method of circulation of the currency, Mohammed declared that those in possession of the notes would be arrested on sight, saying the currency is illegal.
"We have received directives to arrest and prosecute the users of the currency and we are going to look out for them," the SSS boss said.
Meanwhile Chief Uwazuruike, who spoke to Daily Champion on Tuesday, stated that his movement cannot be intimidated by the government and its security into withdrawing the currency.
He insisted that any object in agreement between a buyer and seller for business transaction remains legal tender.
Uwazuruike however, said that MASSOB was not forcing anybody to accept or use the money.
"We cannot be intimidated or deceived. Arrest and prosecution of our activists have become part of the struggle. I mean, they have been arresting harassing and prosecuting us so, it is no longer new to us. People will continue to accept Biafran currency because it is a legal tender," he said.
The MASSOB leader also disclosed that more of the currency will be released into circulation in due course as it is part of MASSOB's agenda to actualise Biafra.
Similarly, the movement's director of information, Uchenna Madu who spoke to Daily Champion in another forum, stated that MASSOB is embarking on sensitization visits to the press for acceptability of the currency and its wide circulation.
Madu, however, declined comment on whether the currency in circulation is that of the defunct Biafra era or new ones being minted.
In Edo State, the MASSOB activist, identified as Peter Nweke, according to sources, swallowed a Biafra currency to evade possible arrest by security agents.
Federal Government had placed a ban on the circulation of the defunct Biafra currency and directed security agents to arrest and prosecute persons found with same.
However, some members of MASSOB in Benin have continued to transact business with the currency among themselves.
Edo State is estimated by police sources to have 2,000 active members of the movement and hundreds of followers who are mostly youths.
Yesterday's incident occurred along the crowded New Benin market, by Upper Mission road bus stop about 11.25 a.m.
The MASSOB member had wanted to buy a pre-used textile material, otherwise called Okirika, from another man on Mission road just opposite the New Benin Market.
An eyewitness said the man brought out his wallet and gently removed two pounds denomination notes of the Biafra currency to pay for the items which cost N450.00.
Report said the colour of the currency attracted the attention of other buyers who requested to see the two pound notes.
Investigation revealed that the okirika seller, suspected to be another MASSOB member, opened up and declared that, "it is our currency, that is why I am accepting it," thereby attracting further attention of the increasing crowd.
"Before five minutes, this place was filled up because some of us have never seen the so-called Biafra currency before.
"Maybe the man selling the clothes was afraid; he quickly returned the two notes to the man, saying that he has no change to give to him because the clothes cost only N450 and the man gave him two pounds.
"As the man was going away, some of us followed him so that he could show us the currency.
"Somebody shouted that we should take him to New Benin Police station. Because of fear, the man took to his heels and as he was running, he squeezed the notes and swallowed them. We were surprised. For him to have swallowed the notes, is not easy.
"After that, he stopped running and when we searched him, there was no other Biafra currency on him. That was why we left him because there was no evidence to take him to police station," one of the buyers around the area, Kelvin Edegbe who witnessed the drama, narrated to Daily Champion.
Further investigation revealed that the banned Biafran currency is being used daily among MASSOB members in the market.
Unconfirmed reports said some denominations of the currency were few weeks ago found inside the offering box in one of the churches located on the same Upper Mission road.
Contacted, spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Peter Ogboi, said the MASSOB members are being investigated.
He reiterated that it is a grave offence to transact any business with the Biafran currency.
It would be recalled that some members of MASSOB were about a year ago arrested in Benin by men of the New Benin police station for organising a sensitisation rally in the Edo State capital.
Also on Tuesday, the police in Awka, the Anambra State capital, paraded a 30-year-old man identified as Sunday Ogbodo for allegedly being in possession of Biafran currency notes.