The protesters on Port Harcourt streets today

Biafran-flag waving protesters stormed the streets of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, southern Nigeria, over the continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the director of the pirate radio, Radio Biafra.

The protest paralysed commercial activities in the oil rich-city as the procesion made its way towards the Government House.

Kanu was arrested on Saturday at a hotel in Lagos. He was scheduled to travel to London.

Kanu’s lawyer, Egechukwu Obetta that kanu has been granted bail.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu: granted bail

But the  founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra is being held as he is  yet to fulfil his bail term of N2million and a surety in like sum, who must be a civil servant on Grade level 16.

His arrest had provoked criticisms from his group and the Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra, MASSOB.

Obetta lamented the treatment given to his client while in custody, saying that he was put in the same cell with terrorists despite his life threatening health challenges.

According to Obetta, Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is selective to delicacies, adding that he (Kanu) vowed never to eat any food served by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The protesters in Port Harcourt today claimed to be members of Movement for the Actualisation  of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

They marched  through major streets such as  Ikwerre Road,through Ikokuo Junction,the popular motor spares parts market in the city. Their number overwhelmed detachment of Policemen who attempted to stop the protest, by firing a tear gas into the crowd.

Massob members on the march for Kanu

They were however undeterred.

They claimed   that the Federal Government was  marginalizing the Igbo ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

The protesters carried twigs,green leaves, placards and banners with varying inscriptions like:‘ ‘Biafra must stand’, ‘Biafra is my home’, ‘We need Biafra’, ‘Zoo must fall’, ‘Biafra will stand’, ‘Biafra for life’, ‘Biafra needs freedom’ ‘A state of Biafra needed’.Biafra or Death’ and others.

Okoro Chukwu,who was one of protesters boasted that:  “What they did today is a welcome development and commendable. It showed that the Igbo people are one, no matter where they are residing and who they are. It is a non-violent agitation and we will never give up in the struggle”.

*Additional report by Okafor Ofiebor/in Port Harcourt