Ogoja women protest Police  arrest of 30 PDP supporters in C’River

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

Thousands of  women in Ogoja, northern Cross River State this morning took to the streets to protest the arrest of 30 of their children by the  state command of the Nigerian Police force.

The women accused the state governor Professor Ben Ayade of being behind the arrest of their children.

They carried various placards and insisted that the state governor Professor Ben Ayade  must stop the arrest of their children and release those already arrested unconditionally. 

Grace Abang, who nspoken on behalf of the women said they are not out for any political party but to request for the release of their children. 

“We have done everything for Ayade and he has failed us only to return back to arrest of children.

” If Ayade is born of a woman he should release our children or come and arrest all of us”, she  said. 

Some of the placards”Ayade Bring back our Children”, “Billboard no d win Election”

“Wonor, Remember the road that will lead you home”, “Ayade respect our human rights”

“Election no be war”, “We say no to Police brutality”, “Ayade must release our children…” Etc.

 Venatius Ikem, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party earlier accused the All Progressives Congress ( APC) of stimulating crisis in the state with the hope of clamping down on their supporters.

He said the state governor Professor Ben Ayade is desperate to return to the Senate and is trying to use security personnel to intimidate voters.

“The APC boys have been simulating crisis in the hope of using the Police to clamp down on our supporters especially in the northern senatorial district. 

“Governor Ayade has lost all semblance of credibility amongst our people but is desperate to return to the Senate. 

“So we know his game plan depends entirely on his ability to utilize state security to intimidate voters. How that will work for him remains to be seen. 

“I can assure you that we will use all means at our disposal to frustrate such nefarious plans”, he said.

Irene Ugbo, the State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrest of the people but insisted they will be screened and those found innocent will be released.

She said they are suspected of destroying billboards belonging to the APC in the northern senatorial district of the state.

Tension in the northern part of the state has been building up ahead of the senatorial contest between Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the PDP and the APC’s Professor Ben Ayade.