Anambra Women Protest Over Alleged Police-Aided Crimes In Awka Communities

Scores of Anambra women from across several Awka communities on Wednesday, gathered in the state capital to denounce alleged wanton killing of their kinsmen. 

The women, some of whom stripped naked, told newsmen that they took the protest as a last resort over the role of some senior police officers attached to the state command, pointing accusing fingers at the deputy police commissioner.

They marched round Awka while carrying placards with messages that accused the police of aiding and abetting bribery and corruption in the area, thus festering the reign of cultism in the affected communities. 

In particular, they accused the deputy commissioner of police of aiding cultists to murder their kinsmen with reckless abandon.

As part of the protest, the women carried a mock coffin, an open reference to their urgent desire to end the era of impunity unleashed on their communities by the accused police officers. 

They gave the command a week ultimatum to remove the indicted police personnel. Some of the placards read as follow:

“Cultists are killing our people."

“Remove bad eggs from Police."

“Nigeria Police deserve better not director of crime,"

“DC causing Insecurity in Awka”, 

“Say no bribery and corruption."

Speaking on behalf of the women, a community leader, Chief Richard Onuora, explained that the affected communities have reached the peak of the level of tolerance hence the decision of the clad less women to issue their frustration in the manner they did.

According to him, the people will no longer tolerate the mindless and incessant killings and maiming of their people.

“We’re crying our eyes out every day because of cult-related killings in the community. There’s fear everywhere. We can’t go out and come back in peace.

“People are dying every day. We won’t keep quiet and watch this man’s inhumanity to man to continue. It is time to put a stop to it.”

In its reaction, the state police command, through its image maker, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, commended the peaceful disposition of the protesters, noting that an amicable resolution would be in place soon. 

DSP Tochukwu, who appreciated the people of the area for their enduring support and cooperation, especially in providing information to the police, added that the command is keen on maintaining the spirit of cooperation, assuring that the matter will be looked into with dispatch. 

“There have been killings and cult-related incidences in Awka. We’re calling on the families of the victims to come forward with a formal report.

“We’ve arrested a notorious killer fingered and confessed to be among those that killed four persons, including a private security operatives. Since that arrest, there has been relative peace here

“We didn’t achieve that feat alone. The people of Awka have been very supportive and cooperative. I must commend them because it’s through their information that we were able to track the suspects.

“As for the complaints brought to us, we’ll look into it and do a proper investigation," he promised