Two policemen were reportedly killed during a protest organized by the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Asaba, Delta State. SaharaReporters learned that a clash between MASSOB members and the police occurred following a police vehicle responding to the protesters, resulting in at least two police officers dying and several others with serious injuries. According to eyewitness, the MASSOB members damaged the police patrol vehicle, vandalizing the windscreen and doors, then overpowered the police who fled in different directions.
"The police used tear gas on the MASSOB members as they were protesting along Anwai road this morning, so they got angry and attack the police team. The MASSOB overpowered one policeman, beat him up and stab him to death while another was shot dead and other fled with severe wounds. The dead policemen and other victims of the clash were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba in a police patrol vehicle and currently receiving treatments at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba" the eyewitness stated.
A FMC nurse told SaharaReporters that only one policeman has been confirmed dead while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
"So far, three policemen were brought in this morning, one was brought in dead with multiple stab wounds, the other two are being treated," the nurse stated.
Meanwhile a similar clash was reported at the River Niger Bridge on the border between Delta and Anambra States, when a group of MASSOB members clashed with a police team.
A police source who confided in SaharaReporters, disclosed that MASSOB members had attacked some policemen at the bridge head, overpowering two of them, before throwing them into the river.
"We have been able to retrieve one of them from the river. He was brought out unconscious, and rushed to the hospital, however, the second victim is still missing" the police source said.
When contacted, the acting Delta State Police Command Spokesman, Charles Mouka however declined to confirm the casualty figur
The signal which was sent to several unit commanders in the Southeastern parts of Nigeria early this morning asked the unit commanders to be on “standby’ in case of a breakdown of law and order as pro-Biafra agitators embark on street protests today in the Southeast.
