Aged women numbering over 100 from Amangwu village in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, yesterday staged a peaceful protest to demand for immediate release of youths of the village who were allegedly arrested and being detained at the state police command without justifiable reason.
The protesters, who were mostly women, accused the state Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, who hailed from a nearby village, Amangbala, of being behind the unwarranted arrest of youth of the village.
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.
It was gathered that 17 youths from the village are currently in police custody over trump-up allegations.
Investigation revealed that, the squabble started when one Stanley Oyim closed a community toilet that has lasted for over 30 years claiming that the land in which it was situated belongs to him.
Although, the said toilet had collapsed and killed a woman, and this resulted to the destruction of properties by youths in the area.
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.
He demanded that the police authorities should free their children without delay.
In a related development, another youths believed to be loyal to Ikpor staged a counter protest to deny the allegations levelled against him (Ikpor) by the protesters.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Every community has a leader; Opia Ehugbo (referring to 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.
He said it was mischievous for the protesters to have mentioned Chief Ikpor’s name when he had no hands in the arrest and detention of anybody from the village.
The youth President said those in police custody were arrested as a result of their alleged criminal activities and willful damage of people’s property in the village.
Responding to the allegations, the chairman of UBEB, Chief Ikpor denied that he has no 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 willful destruction of people’s property in the area”, he stated.
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.
