The Imo State Police Command has summoned the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, to appear before its Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) in Owerri over alleged criminal offences.
According to an official police invitation letter sighted on Friday, Uwazuruike is expected to report at the AKU headquarters on Monday, October 20, 2025. The invitation, signed by a senior police officer, indicated that the appearance is in connection with ongoing investigations into undisclosed offences allegedly linked to the separatist leader.
The timing of the police summons has, however, raised concerns among observers, as it coincides with the date civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups are scheduled to hold nationwide peaceful protests demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Uwazuruike, who founded MASSOB in 1999 to advocate for a non-violent path toward Biafra’s independence, has in recent years distanced himself from IPOB and its leader, Kanu, accusing them of hijacking his original ideology.
A source close to the Imo State Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Uwazuruike’s invitation was “strictly procedural and unrelated to any political or protest activities,” insisting that the command was only “carrying out its lawful duties.”
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, for an official comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
Meanwhile, MASSOB members have reportedly been placed on alert, with some describing the police action as an attempt to “intimidate” Uwazuruike and distract attention from the growing calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
As tensions mount ahead of Monday’s protests, both security agencies and organizers have continued to urge participants to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
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