Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Hundreds of aggrieved women from
Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta
State on Wednesday protested the arrest and continued detention of 10 of
their youths by the military for alleged involvement in the bombings of
oil facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).The protesting women alleged that some
of the youths were writing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)
last month when they were seized by the soldiers on the trail of members
of the notorious Niger Delta Avengers.
The women, dressed in dark top and
skirts, wailed and rolled on the road as they marched along the ever
busy Warri-Sapele road in Warri, Delta State, causing a traffic
gridlock.
They demanded for the release of the
children within seven days or face another massive protest in Abuja, the
seat of Federal Government.
Some of their placards read thus “We
need them back in school”, “Mr. President Free Our Brothers Time Is
Running Out”, “They are Not NDA, They Are Students of Gbaraun Grammar
School, Oporoza”, “Just Bring Back Our Sons Alive” and “10 Boys Are
Still In Detention, Free Our Brothers. They Are The Future”.
According to the women, the youths
arrested by the JTF during the militarization of their communities were
not members of any militant groups but school children who we’re getting
set to write exams.
Speaking on behalf of the women, the
National leader of Ijaw Women, Mrs. Veronica Tanbowei, accused the
federal government of oppressing the people of Gharamatu kingdom by
wrongfully labeling their children as militants.
“If the Federal comes out and tell us
that they have killed our children, then they should be ready to kill
all of us. We are giving them seven days ultimatum and if they do not
allow us to see our children we all will march to Abuja and they will
kill all of us.
“Buhari government has sent the army to
kill our children, but today we are asking them to bring back our
children for us. They should bring our innocent children back to us,”
she said.
Further details later
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