The Imo State Police Command has summoned the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, to appear before its Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) over allegations of criminal activities.
Uwazuruike is expected to report to the AKU headquarters in Owerri on Monday, October 20, 2025, the same day that civil society organizations plan to hold nationwide peaceful protests calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The police invitation letter, dated October 16, 2025, accuses Uwazuruike of criminal invasion, forgery, and wilful damage. The letter, jointly signed by ASP John Ebute, ASP Eze Jet, and Inspector Alice Zakari, instructs the MASSOB leader to appear before the AKU on the specified date.
Reacting to the police summons, MASSOB described the invitation as a possible attempt to prevent Uwazuruike from participating in the planned peaceful protest for Kanu’s release.
The group issued a statement confirming that Uwazuruike had been directed to report to the AKU by 10:00 a.m. on October 20.
In the statement, Mazi Chris Mocha, MASSOB’s Director of Information, relayed Uwazuruike’s response to the summons. He was quoted as saying in a recent viral video, “I will be part of any peaceful protest for Nnamdi Kanu’s release. This is not about Kanu alone; it is about our collective dignity as a people.”
Uwazuruike expressed his willingness to engage in the protest despite the police invitation, stating that he had no issues with the summons but recognised it as an attempt to prevent him from participating in the protest. He maintained that he was “firm, calm, and unshaken.”
The MASSOB leader emphasised that his support for the protest was based on principles of conscience and justice, not confrontation.
He reiterated that he had consistently advocated for non-violence in Biafra’s self-determination struggle, aligning his actions with peace rather than provocation.
