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SSS Labels MASSOB Security Threat

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
June 2, 2004
Posted to the web June 3, 2004

By Kenneth Ofoma
Abakaliki
Director of State Security Services (SSS) in Ebonyi State, Alhaji Ibrahim
Mashi, has condemned the activities of the Movement for the Actualisation of
Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), describing them as posing a threat to the
nation's security.
Alhaji Mashi who described MASSOB activities as illegal and treasonable, said
the SSS and police in the state have been going round uprooting Biafran flags
being mounted by the group at different parts of the state.
He disclosed this yesterday during a press conference in Abakaliki the state
capital.
According to him, the name "Sovereign State of Biafra," makes the organisation
illegal and their activities treasonable; appealing to journalists to enlighten
the public and youths in particular on the dangers of joining such "a
separatist group."
Alhaji Mashi said he called the press conference in line with the new policy
adopted by the SSS and in recognition of the importance of the media in
enhancing national security, as well as the need to inform the public more
about the role of the service and the achievements recorded by the command.
Alhaji Mashi identified five main areas of security concern in the state. These
include: communal strive, economic sabotage, industrial/union disputes, cultism
and armed robbery.
"The state is inundated with numerous conflicts among communities in various
local governments, precipitated by land disputes, ethno-religious differences,
and socio-cultural dissimilarity. This threat that can affect the very
foundation of this country as witnessed in many parts of the country and
recently in Kano and Plateau states, is constantly being addressed by the local
formations of this command," he stated.
He noted that the greatest economic sabotage in the state is the recurring
vandalization of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines in
Ivo local government area, where he said that the spillage of petroleum
products from the damaged pipelines had led to the acute waste of economic
resources and the environmental pollution of farmlands and local water
resources.
On cultism, Alhaji Mashi recalled that last year, cult groups killed about 10
people, compelling the state university authorities to close the school.
He said the command has evolved a strategy to counter cultism in higher
institution as well as the activities of oil pipeline vandals.

   

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