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Nigeria: Uchenna Madu; his position within the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB); the number of times he has been detained by the Nigerian authorities and dates of his detention(s) and release(s) since December 2005; his whereabouts in mid-September 2006

Several sources consulted by the Research Directorate identify Uchenna Madu as the Director of Information for the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) (Daily Champion 11 Aug. 2005; ibid. 7 May 2007; Biafraland.com 16 Dec. 2006; Vanguard 7 Dec. 2005). Two other sources consulted identify him as the group's spokesman (AFP 7 Dec. 2005; BBC 5 Dec. 2005).

In January 2006, the MASSOB reportedly called on the Nigerian government to release arrested members of its group, including Uchenna Madu and MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike (Daily Champion 25 Jan. 2006). Madu and the other MASSOB members were accused of "conspir[ing] among themselves to levy war against the [Nigerian] Federal Government" (Vanguard 31 July 2007; ibid. 18 Mar. 2006), and faced charges of treason (ibid.; ibid. 31 July 2007; This Day 10 Mar. 2006).

The date on which Madu was arrested could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate; however, an 18 March 2006 article in the Lagos-based Vanguard newspaper reported that the Nigerian authorities had arrested and detained Madu at least two months before the article's publication.

Madu and Uwazuruike were reportedly held without bail while awaiting their trial, which had been adjourned several times up until the end of September 2006 (This Day 30 Oct. 2006; see also This Day 10 Mar. 2006). According to Biafraland.com, the website of Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF), an organization that shares the MASSOB's goal of obtaining an independent state of Biafra (Biafraland.com n.d.), both MASSOB officials remained in prison in December 2006 (ibid. 16 Dec. 2006).

In August 2007, it was reported that Madu was still in prison (Vanguard 28 Aug. 2007). Information on whether Madu has since been released could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 7 December 2005. "Eastern Nigeria Back to Work as Biafrans Hail Protest." (Factiva)

Biafraland.com. 16 December 2006. "News Analysis." <http://www.biafraland.com/NewsAnalysis2006/newsanalysis121606.htm> [Accessed 22 Nov. 2007]
_____. N.d. "Biafra Nation." <http://www.biafraland.com/> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 5 December 2005. "Separatist Clash in Nigerian City." <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4499570.stm> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]

Daily Champion [Lagos]. 7 May 2007. Alphonsus Nweze. "Nigeria: MASSOB Disowns Sit-at-Home Order." (AllAfrica) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200705070282.html> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]
_____. 25 January 2006. "MASSOB Calls for Uwazuruike's Release, Others." (AllAfrica/Factiva)
_____. 11 August 2005. Emma Ogu and Vincent Adekoye. "Nigeria: SSS, Massob Clash Over Biafran Money." (AllAfrica) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200508110115.html> [Accessed 22 Nov. 2007]

This Day [Lagos]. 30 October 2006. Amby Uneze. "Nigeria: MASSOB Urges Members' Trial." <http://allafrica.com/stories/200610300825.html> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]
_____. 10 March 2006. Lillian Okenwa. "Nigeria: Uwazurike Faces Fresh Charges." <http://allafrica.com/stories/200603130108.html> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]

Vanguard [Lagos]. 28 August 2007. Enyim Enyim. "Nigeria: MASSOB Disowns Anambra Kidnapping." (AllAfrica) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200708280184.html> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]
_____. 31 July 2007. Ise-Oluwa Ige. "Nigeria: FG Can't Break My Spirit – Uwazuruike." <http://allafrica.com/stories/200707310081.html> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]
_____. 18 March 2006. Ise-Oluwa Ige. "AAGM: Court Refuses to Quash Charges Against MASSOB Leaders." (Factiva)
_____. 7 December 2005. Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara and Eric Ugbor. "Nigeria: 20 Killed in Bloody Police, MASSOB Clash." (AllAfrica) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200512070059.html> [Accessed 26 Nov. 2007]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), United Kingdom Home Office, United States Department of State.