By Abasi Ita, Calabar
Commercial activities were grinded to a halt today in Ogoja as women from the five local government councils in Cross River North took to the streets in protests over the multiple arrests of youths accused of defacing All Progressives Congress APC billboards in the area
The women, operating under the aegis of Cross River North Women are demanding the unconditional release of over 30 youths said to be PDP loyalists arrested by the Police yesterday for allegedly vandalising APC billboards.
Addressing journalists at the Divisional Police Headquarters Ogoja, spokeswoman of the group, Madam Grace Abang stated that they were not out for any political party but to request for the release of their children arrested on the order of Governor Ben Ayade
According to her, “we have done everything for Ayade and having failed us woefully, he is returning to arrest our children. He should be prepared to arrest all of us ”
“It’s pathetic that our own son and brother is fond of using police to intimidate his own people over minor political differences. When we demanded adequate compensation for our ancestral land he forcefully acquired without due process for the so called Obudu Cargo Airport , our royal royal fathers, husbands and sons were arrested and locked up in Afokang Prison in Calabar for months without trail.God is watching ”
In his remark,the Divisional Police Officer Ogoja, Horsfall Minafuro appealed to the protesters to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands.
The DPO assured the mothers that the boys will be released after due process and implored parents to caution their wards against heating the polity ahead the 2023 elections.
Some placards paraded by the protesters read” “Ayade,remember the road that will take you home”
“Ayade, bring back our children ,”We say no to Police brutality”,”Ayade must bring back our children”,”Election is not war” and “Billboards does not win elections”
The protest took off from Ishibori playground through Market road, Mission road and terminated at the Ogoja Divisional Headquarters,Hospital Road.