Women in the oil-producing area of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State stormed the streets of Mmahu community on Monday to protest alleged police brutality against the people.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the women, numbering over 500, were seen with placards bearing various inscriptions, appealing to the State and Federal Governments, as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to come to their rescue.
They alleged that there had been consistent police brutality in their communities, leading to their sons fleeing following alleged killings of victims of the brutality.
The spokesperson of the protesters, Mrs. Anwulika Omogo, told newsmen that the police team brutalizing the communities was led by one Insp. Chika Okeabatta, popularly known as ‘Kill and Bury’.
Omogo, a Women Leader in the area, who claimed that Okeabatta was a member of the disbanded SARS operators, further alleged that he had recruited unknown state actors as a militia group around the Egbema axis.
She alleged that the militia mainly attacks, kills, and arrest innocent and law-abiding residents of the area, labeling them with criminal charges.
“Most recently, the President-General of the community, Pastor Noble Omogo, was arrested and detained in the inspector’s illegal cell at the former NDDC hospital in Mmahu for three days without investigation or any crime.
“The Inspector boasts that he is not answerable to both the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer or any other police authority, as he is now the police Traditional Ruler of Egbema.
“Egbema is a peaceful oil-producing community, and we want the government to intervene in this issue before it degenerates to our children deciding to retaliate,” she noted.
Also speaking, Mrs. Love Nzeoma said that the community does not want what happened in Delta to happen to them.
“We do not want our children to resort to self-defense because they have been pushed to the wall.
“Any action they take may affect so many other lives and government installations.
“We respect the law, but we can no longer afford to keep quiet while our children are being killed daily on frivolous charges,” Nzeoma said.
Some of the placards read, ‘Police brutality must stop,” “Kill and Bury, stop killing innocent souls,” “Government, please save us from police brutality,” and “Our pastor must be released,” among others.
The police spokesman in Imo, ASP Henry Okoye, promised to react to the matter after contacting the Area Commander of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government but had not at the time of filing the report.