The residence of the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first president, was on Monday torched by separatists demonstrating against the arrest of their leader, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported.

Two buildings and a car at the compound belonging to the family of Azikiwe were destroyed in the blaze by members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) that advocates an independent state in Nigeria's oil-producing south peacefully, the report said.

Commuters and business activities were grounded to a halt in the southern commercial city of Onitsha for several hours, the second in two weeks by the group, witnesses said.

The separatists also blocked the Niger Bridge and major roads with burning motor tires to protest against the arrest of their leader Ralph Uwazuruike by security operatives recently. No vehicle was allowed to enter or leave Onitsha.

The demonstrators chanting war songs carried placards, some of which read "Nigeria's abduction of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike is inhuman," "We are Biafrans not Nigerians," "Please release Chief Uwazuruike" and "Stop killing MASSOB."

One of their leaders, Venatius Muoneke, was quoted as saying that they were demanding for the immediate and unconditional release of Uwazuruike.

He said Uwazuruike had since the formation of MASSOB six years ago, remained non-violent and never advocated violence in the struggle for the actualization of the sovereignty of Biafra.

The Nigerian government, however, regards advocating the self determination of the Igbo race, the third largest of Nigeria's more than 250 ethnic groups, as treason and has arrested hundreds of MASSOB members during the past months.

Uwazuruike was arrested on October 25 and in a motion ex parte filed before a court early this month, he sought a declaration that his arrest and his continued detention were illegal.

Source: Xinhua