Women protest ‘unlawful’ arrest of youths in Ebonyi community

Not fewer than hundred people from Amangwu village in Afikpo north local government area of Ebonyi state Monday protested arrest of youths of the village by state police.

The protesters who were mostly women alleged that their youths were detained unjustly pointing at state Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), High Chief Hyacinth Ikpor who hails from a nearby village, Amangbala  to  have master minded the arrest.

Amangwu and Amangbala villages belong to one community in Afikpo North LGA.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Let there be Justice in our community”; “UBEB Chairman, can’t you make peace in your community?” among others.

The protesting villagers alleged that they no longer sleep with eyes closed sequel to the intimidation, harassment, indiscriminately and unlawful arrest of the youth of the village.

One of the villagers who spoke on behalf of the protesters, Chika Dike, said they are being persecuted by Ikpor and his loyalists from the village for trying to rebuild their village toilet.

She said not less than 17 youth from the village are currently in police custody over trump-up allegations; adding that they are asking the police authorities to free their children without delay.

In a related development, a group from the neighbouring village staged a counter protest to deny the allegations leveled against High Chief Ikpor by the protesters.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Every community has a leader; Opia Ehugbo (referring to High Chief Ikpor) is our leader; “Elections are over”, “those who committed any crime must face the law”; Opia Ehugbo must remain to represent us in UBEB”; among other inscriptions.

The group led by the Youth President of Amangbala village, Austin Ekuma, said they decided to embark on the protest to urge elements of APC in Amangwu village to desist from stoking crisis in the area.

“These APC people are causing problem in our community and elections are over. They are destroying people’s houses and other valuable property. So, we are urging them to desist from that. That’s why we are protesting”, he said.

The youth President said those in police custody were arrested as a result of their alleged criminal activities.

Speaking to Journalists over the allegations, Ikpor denied he has hands in the arrest and detentions of anybody from Amangwu village, saying “those arrested were as a result of their involvement in the violence and destruction of people’s property in the area”.

He said for the protesters to accuse him of persecuting them for trying to rebuild their toilet was laughable and should be discountenanced.

Efforts to speak with the state Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Loveth Odah, failed as calls put across to her mobile phone were neither received nor returned.

2 Attachments

Leave a Reply