The Ebonyi women protesting
Thousands of women in Amagu community, Abakaliki Local Government
Area of Ebonyi State on Tuesday protested the arrest of their husbands
and sons by the police.
Area of Ebonyi State on Tuesday protested the arrest of their husbands
and sons by the police.
The report by PremiumTimes revealed that residents of the community
and some government officials in the area have been at loggerheads over
lead mineral deposit in the community. Some members of the community
were said to be mining the lead without license from the federal or
state government.
and some government officials in the area have been at loggerheads over
lead mineral deposit in the community. Some members of the community
were said to be mining the lead without license from the federal or
state government.
The police were alerted by some government officials in the area on
the alleged illegal mining which led to arrest of six persons. The
arrest triggered protest by youth of the area who blocked the entrance
and exit points of the area to prevent police officers from leaving with
the arrested persons.
the alleged illegal mining which led to arrest of six persons. The
arrest triggered protest by youth of the area who blocked the entrance
and exit points of the area to prevent police officers from leaving with
the arrested persons.
The situation led to a clash between the youth and the police
officers which left some persons injured. Another account indicated that
earlier in the day, the police mobilised its officers and arrested over
30 members of the community.
officers which left some persons injured. Another account indicated that
earlier in the day, the police mobilised its officers and arrested over
30 members of the community.
Angered by this, women made up of the young and elderly took to the
streets of Abakaliki to protest the arrest. The women were loaded in
trucks from the community to Abakaliki where they marched round some
major roads in the capital city to Abakaliki local government
headquarters.
streets of Abakaliki to protest the arrest. The women were loaded in
trucks from the community to Abakaliki where they marched round some
major roads in the capital city to Abakaliki local government
headquarters.
The women numbering over 2,000 with palm fronds on their faces,
waists and other parts of their bodies marched to register their anger
over the arrest. They then gathered at Nkaliki road junction where they
took off to Abakiliki local government headquarters, Nkaliki. They were
almost stopped by a team of police officers in over six hilux vans who
blocked them on the road.
waists and other parts of their bodies marched to register their anger
over the arrest. They then gathered at Nkaliki road junction where they
took off to Abakiliki local government headquarters, Nkaliki. They were
almost stopped by a team of police officers in over six hilux vans who
blocked them on the road.
When they got to the entrance gate of the local government, they
tried pulling it down as it was shut by the security officers. To
disperse the women, police officers fired teargas on them.
tried pulling it down as it was shut by the security officers. To
disperse the women, police officers fired teargas on them.
Speaking with journalists, one of the protesters, Nwofoke Blessing, said “we
are here to tell the council chairman that we are not happy the way our
husbands and sons are arrested. We are telling him to release our
husbands and sons.”
are here to tell the council chairman that we are not happy the way our
husbands and sons are arrested. We are telling him to release our
husbands and sons.”
“Since yesterday morning they have been arresting our youths and husbands, even my husband was also arrested.
“This morning, they came back with seven hilux vans and
continued the arrest of our youths and husbands. We were having meeting
in our play ground when they came in and arrested our people there”.
continued the arrest of our youths and husbands. We were having meeting
in our play ground when they came in and arrested our people there”.
“This is why we the women came out to see our council chairman,
but police blocked us. We succeeded in coming to the local government
to tell the chairman to release all our people. The problem is
lead(mineral deposit) issue. Some government officials want to ‘carry’
all the mineral deposits without us benefiting and our youth said no
that we are members of the community who should be carried along”.
but police blocked us. We succeeded in coming to the local government
to tell the chairman to release all our people. The problem is
lead(mineral deposit) issue. Some government officials want to ‘carry’
all the mineral deposits without us benefiting and our youth said no
that we are members of the community who should be carried along”.
Addressing the women, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on
internal security, Kenneth Ugbala, assured them that the state
government will look into the problem and resolve it amicably.
internal security, Kenneth Ugbala, assured them that the state
government will look into the problem and resolve it amicably.
He urged them not to take laws into their hands as it would
aggravate the problem. The chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area,
Emma Nwangele, refused to see journalists who went to his office over
the matter.
aggravate the problem. The chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area,
Emma Nwangele, refused to see journalists who went to his office over
the matter.
Reacting to the news, the police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said
there was a formal report against illegal mining in the community which
the police acted upon and arrested six persons who were mining in the
area illegally.
there was a formal report against illegal mining in the community which
the police acted upon and arrested six persons who were mining in the
area illegally.
She dismissed the claim by some members of the community that over
100 persons of the area were arrested as according to her, only 27 were
arrested.
100 persons of the area were arrested as according to her, only 27 were
arrested.
“Police are investigating the matter and I think that is why
the women are protesting. In no distant time, police will get to the
root of the matter and their husbands and sons will be released to them.
the women are protesting. In no distant time, police will get to the
root of the matter and their husbands and sons will be released to them.
“What we are appealing to them is to calm down so that they will not succeed in destroying more properties,” she said.