IPOB: Police Silent About Women Protesters Arrested In Imo State

Scores Of Women Remain Detained By Imo Police.

The police in Imo State have refused to make comments on the women detained recently following their protest of the “disappearance” of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Naija News recalls Kanu has not been seen in public since IPOB had a clash with soldiers of the Nigerian army in Abia, last year during the operation python dance in the region.

It was gathered that the women were picked close to Warehouse junction in the state capital, on Friday after attempts by the policemen to disperse them with teargas were unsuccessful.

When contacted, Andrew Enwerem, spokesman of the Imo state police command, declined to state the offence of the protesters.

Asked why the police picked them up, he replied : “Go to Owerri prison, you are a reporter. Go to the prison and find out.”

TheCable, however, told him attempts have been made to have access to the prison authorities but the reporter was redirected to the police.

“I am the police spokesperson and not an investigator,” he said, adding: “If you ask me, I will say yes, some women were arrested, I don’t know their count charge.”

But why were they arrested? “Go to the prison and find out,” he interjected.

Meanwhile Nigerians and groups have criticised the police and called for the immediate release of the women.

Igbo Ekunie Initiative, a socio-cultural Igbo organisation, described it as “cowardly” and “primitive”.

“These innocent and unarmed women were within their rights under the Nigerian constitution, engaging in a peaceful demonstration and protest over the continued disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu,” the group had said on Wednesday.

Some have also taken to the social media to condemn the incident and warn against a clampdown on the fundamental rights of citizens.

See their Tweets below:

Mr President @POTUS, Have A Look On Pictures Of One Of The Biafran Women Brutalized By Nigerian Police In Owerri On 17th August 2018 And She Is Still Being Detained Without Any Medical Help By The Orders Of Okorocha @ImoGovernor . Mr President, These Are Our Mothers, Act Now pic.twitter.com/eSG000UklZ

— IPOB DIOBU ZONE One, IGWEOCHA (@DiobuZone_PH) August 22, 2018

I condemn the arrest and detention of IPOB women by the security forces in Owerri simply for participating in a peaceful demonstration in support of Nnamdi Kanu and asking for his whereabouts.I call on the government to release the women and let them go home to their families.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) August 20, 2018

The @PoliceNG should,as a matter of urgency,release d innocent &harmless IPOB women they arrested in Owerri yesterday following their march 2 demand 4 d whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu.Such cowardly crackdown on women by d police isn't needed in s/east but against herdsmen in d M/Belt

— Jude C. Ndukwe ANIPR (@stjudendukwe) August 18, 2018