Isuaniocha Youths in Awka North Local government area of Anambra State have carried out a peaceful protest against what they called “incessant arrests in the community by personnel of the Anambra State Police Command”.
The youths called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to urgently come to their aid as over eighty youths have been arrested at the instigation of some wealthy individuals in the community.
The protesting youths marched around the community, calling for the release of their colleagues, who have been in detention without any established crime.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as, “Isuaniocha people are crying for help, Governor Soludo come to our aid,” “Governor Soludo, Isuaniocha people are dying please Save us from brutality,” “DSP Mathew Agu and others are terrorists in police uniform, IGP please intervene,” “Agolum and his cohorts have messed up our community with cultism.”
The youths chanted solidarity songs as they marched through the community’s Civic Centre and other major roads.
Their Leader, Ozor Onyemazu Nagini, who spoke to journalists claimed that there had been a crisis in the town since 2017, occasioned by the town union leadership then, and has led to the death of some individuals in the area, as well as the destruction of properties.
He complained that they have called on the police several times to help them, but instead, the police come to arrest their youths, while the main people causing the crisis community are left.
Reacting to the allegations of incessant arrests, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, said police only got involved in a bid to maintain law and order in the community.
Tochukwu encouraged the youths not to go to the streets, but to write to the police if they have any complaints.
He assured that the Police Commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng, is ready to listen to their complaints, instead of them hitting the streets in protest which may be hijacked, and their aim defeated.
