Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday debunked rumours of his purported arrest by the police shortly after launching Biafran travelling document entitled United States of Biafra Passport in his country home Okwe. The police have also denied arresting him.

Uwazuruike who spoke to Daily Champion on telephone however said that he was not afraid of arrest and would like to go back to prison. Rumour had made round in Owerri that he had been arrested for launching the Biafran International Passport.

The MASSOB leader said he was in his father’s compound in Okwe and was never arrested. He described the rumour as the handiwork of cowards who cannot defend their right to self determination. "Right now I am in my father’s compound. Nobody has arrested me. But if they want to arrest me, I am available. I even want to go back to prison because I have stayed long outside," he said.

He said the passport was an identity for all Biafrans residing both in Nigeria and other countries of the world. He said the 34-page travel document bearing Biafran coat of arms in front was printed abroad and is superior to Nigerian international passport in quality.

He said the Biafran Passport has been forwarded to Gabon embassy for travel visa to enable his team travel to Gabon to commiserate with the government and people of the country over the death of President Omar Bongo.

Chief Uwazuruike also urged Niger Delta militants to ignore President Umaru Yar’Adua’s amnesty and rather, intensify their aggression against the Federal Government. He said amnesty was meant for convicts and since the militants have not been convicted by any court of law, amnesty was "nonsense".

He said the militants should go ahead with their struggle to control their resources because what they are fighting for was their right.

"The Federal Government of Nigeria is the one steeling their oil and they are talking of amnesty. Can a thief grant amnesty to the owner of the goods? It is nonsense", he said.

Meanwhile, the police have also denied rumour of Uwazuruike’s arrest. The command’s Public Relations officer (PRO), Mr. Linus Nwaiwu when contacted by Daily Champion feigned ignorance of the launching of Biafran passport by the MASSOB leader.

"For now, he is not in our custody and we are not after him. I am not even aware of the travel document you said he launched", Nwaiwu said.