Nigerian security forces on Thursday declared Ralph Uwazurike, leader of a group that hopes to form a new independent Biafra state in the country's oil-producing south, wanted.

Uwazurike of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was wanted for alleged criminal exploitation and treason, said Alex Amaechina, director of the State Security Service (SSS) in the southern state of Imo.

Amaechina told reporters in Owerri, the state capital, that Uwazurike had attempted to break up the west African country by calling for the secession of the south-east zone and some parts of the south-south from Nigeria.

Uwazurike was also said to have set up a parallel government.

"Uwazurike to come out from your hiding, surrender yourself, let's test the law," Amaechina said.

He said security operatives had raided the compound of the MASSOB's leader at Okwe in Onuimo Council Area in the state on Aug. 30 and confiscated some of his property, including three jeeps, a motorcycle, a locally manufactured explosive device, and army camouflage uniforms.

"Also recovered were some Biafran currency and a map showing the routes used by Biafran Soldiers during the Nigerian Civil war, " the SSS director stated, adding that two suspects were arrested in Uwazurike's residence.

Amaechina said that for the first time, since series of raids at Okwe, MASSOB members fired gun shots at Security operatives on Aug. 30.

"We resisted the return of fire to avoid civilian casualties, particularly among the innocent villagers," he said.

He said eight MASSOB members were arrested at Ama-Hausa quarters in Owerri between Aug. 16 and 25, while attempting to exchange the illegal tender Biafran currency for naira.

In May 1967, an independent Biafra state, which took its name from the Bight of Biafra and includes Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region, was established by the Igbo people following simmering ethnic tensions with rival Hausas.

After initial military gains, the secessionist state, which was recognized by only five nations during its existence, was pushed back and finally reabsorbed into Nigeria in January 1970.

More than one million civilians died in fighting and from famine in the three-year bloody war.

The MASSOB, which allegedly advocates autonomy for the Igbo people through peaceful and constitutional means, was founded in 1999.

And in August last year, it called for the observance of the Biafra Day to draw attention of the international community to the need for the creation of the new Biafra state. This brought Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos and several southeastern states to a near halt.

Source: Xinhua