Aged women numbering over 100 from Agubia community, in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Monday, protested naked over the arrest of their sons.
They claimed that not less than nine of their sons have been arrested by security agents allegedly acting on the orders of a top state government official from the area, following the crisis rocking Agubia Park.
The protesters who stormed Government House Abakaliki, alleged that two more people were arrested on Saturday in a wedding ceremony in Abakaliki, because of the same crisis.
It would be recalled that there was a bloody clash between two rival groups in Agubia Park, which is the central park where all the vehicles leaving and entering the community do stop.
The crisis which happened last month, was as a result power tussle over which group to control the motor park in the community.
The clash led to the killing of one Chinedu Nwali, while many others were injured, and houses, cars and other valuable properties worth millions of naira were damaged.
The women said that since the clash, the community have known no peace.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs Mercy Nwali, said they turned out in their numbers to demand urgent and amicable resolution of the matter, adding that their lives and that of their family members were in danger.
They also called for the immediate release of their children who had been in detention.
She said: “What we demand is that all of them should come home so that we make peace. They shouldn’t be in town here and be terrorizing us in the village. We no longer sleep in our homes and we want government to intervene”.
On her part, Mrs Juliana Nwali, who gave the names of her children arrested as Messrs Igwe Nwali, Chikwendu Nwali and Chineme Nwali, vowed never to leave government gate until they were released to her.
Addressing the protesters, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha, assured them the readiness of government to address all their concerns, so that absolute peace would return to the area.
“You know, you are our mothers. Our Governor was not happy to see you in this way and mood. So, whatever is the problem, I assure you it will be resolved not later than today’, he assured.
In her reaction, the police public relations officer, Ebonyi State, DSP Loveth Odah, said that six persons were arrested for assaulting policemen who went to the area to effect arrest in connection with the clash.
Adding that the case has been charged to court.
