Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State
Hoodlums invade Aba prayer ground, beat up women, destroy musical instruments
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
There was pandemonium in Aba Saturday morning when hoodlums attacked and beat up women and others who organised prayers for Abia’s infrastructural rebirth.
The gathering was a monthly prayer session organized by Women At It Again (WAIA). Women At It Again is the Women’s Wing of Africa in Praise Network (APNET) which is s body of Ministers and well-meaning individuals who are passionate for positive change in Abia.
The WAIA monthly prayer session which holds every first Saturday is tagged; Abia Women Day Of Mourning. The December edition had the theme: “How Long O!Lord?”
The text taken from Isaiah 37:3: read: “This day is a day of trouble and of rebuke, and of blasphemy; for the children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth.”
At about 10 a.m, Saturday, the women had gathered at Port Harcourt Road by Uratta Road Junction, Aba, to conduct the prayer session they had prepared for all month long.
Hardly had the women set up their musical equipment when the hoodlums struck, beating up everyone at sight and destroyed their musical instruments and other equipment.
Witnesses said that prior to the arrival of the hoodlums, a set of women working with Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) had arrived the venue, pretending to be attending to the heap of refuse in the area.
Shortly afterwards, according to the sources, a young man emerged and started making frantic phone calls.
Before long, young men encircled the area and asked the ASEPA women to leave immediately.
“As soon as the ASEPA women had left, hell was let loose and the hoodlums descended on the hapless, praying women, destroying their equipment and inflicting bodily injury on many,” a witness volunteered.
One of the women whi craved for anonymity, said they organised the prayer to attack every evil spirit hindering the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Road which the Ikpeazu administration embarked upon but appeared to have abandoned the work.
APNET explained, in an invitation letter to the monthly prayer session, that Port Harcourt Road by Uratta Junction was chosen as venue for the prayer session because of the deplorable condition of Port Harcourt Road.
The letter read in part: “The deplorable state of Port Harcourt Road and its environs should be of utmost concern to everyone, particularly the churches within Port Harcourt Road.
“We have over the years taken cognisance of the insensitive natures of our governments and realized that nothing will change unless we cry out unto God and take collective responsibility.
By this letter Sir, we request you use your good office to encourage your women to join the rest of us in this day of mourning. Who knows whether God will look on our affliction and show our land mercy.”
