SAN FRANCISCO, October 06, (THEWILL) – Women of Kokori in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State trooped out in their hundreds almost naked on Sunday to protest what they described as the army take-over of their town following the arrest in Portharcourt, two weeks ago, of kidnapping kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, who hails from the town.
The protest, which came few days after human rights activist, Oghenejabor Ikimi, condemned the militarisation of community following Kelvin’s arrest, was to show their displeasure at the way the men in the community had been made to flee their homes for fear of being arrested by the ‘army of occupation’.
Chanting and singing as they expressed sorrow at the haunting of their men, the women, both young and old, pulled off their wrappers and clothing as they openly challenged the soldiers whom they accused of preventing their husbands from coming home to come and sleep with them and perform the duties of their husbands.
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The new set of soldiers was reportedly deployed to the community after Friday’s attack on the palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Ogurimerime Ukori 1, by armed youths suspected to be members of the notorious kidnapping kingpin’s gang.
Armed gang suspected to be loyal to Kelvin had on Friday attacked the palace of the monarch while he played host to PDP Delta Central Senatorial District candidate, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, where they held the visitors hostage for hours and thereafter smashed and burnt many cars, including security vehicles, in the palace.
“The women number about 100 were singing mourning songs about the fate of Kokori saying they were unhappy that their husbands have fled the community due to the military operation launched in the wake of the arrest of notorious criminal, Kelvin Oniarah,” a source in the community said.
However, the Commanding Officer of Sector 1 Command of the JTF, Lt. Colonel Ifeanyi Otu, could not be reached immediately for comment on the protest and accusation levelled against his men..
The protest came as a group, the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, (FJHRD), condemned the militarisation of Kokori following the activities of arrested Kelvin.
A statement issued by the coordinator of the group, Oghenejabor Ikimi, said: ” We do condemn in no mean terms the siege and shootings in Kokori Community by soldiers on duty for internal security operations and we call for an immediate end to the said siege and shootings.
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Kokori xommunity is the home of Mr. Kelvin Oniarah, the arrested alleged kidnap kingpin and the urgent need by our security agencies to fish out and comb for arms and criminals in the area in the interest of peace and the maintenance of law and order,
“However, we strongly urge that the above task be done with all civility and in accordance with the applicable rules of engagement.
“Nevertheless, we frown at reports of thousands of fleeing residents who are unarmed civilians, the closure of public and private schools, and the closure of the only health centre in Kokori community owing to fear, intimidation and harassment by soldiers who break into the homes of residents and shoot at will”
“The above act of the soldiers no doubt is tantamount to an act of collective punishment which we believe is another form of jungle justice and we call for total restraint by the soldiers forthwith.”
The statement came as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth group, Ethiope East Youth PDP Faithful Network (EEYPFN), weekend, blamed the Friday attack on Aguariavwodo’s PDP Campaign Organisation on the failure of Ethiope East PDP leadership to consult with the youths in the locality.
The group, which, however, condemned the action of those who carried out the wanton destruction, nonetheless, blamed the attack on the campaign train of Hon. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo on the failure of the Ethiope East leaders to consult with the youths of the party on the security measures to be taken during the visit to the palace.
A statement by its National President, Augustine Ogedegbe, and the Secretary, Emore Hope, said if the party’s youths across the 11 wards in the LGA were consulted, the attack on the party leaders would have been averted.
Explaining that the PDP youth group has played significant role in reawakening of the party in Ethiope East after the 2011 general elections, the statement said when the leadership of the party went into extinction, the group frowned at the behaviour of the party’s leadership in not carrying along the youths in the scheme of things.
Maintaining that the group is an umbrella body that comprises all PDP youths across the Local Government, it condemned some perceived actions of the PDP leadership to thwart the efforts and underestimate the role of the PDP youths in the activities of the party.
The group added that there was no election held in the Local Government that the youths have not participated fully or played major roles, describing the actions of the leadership as a major setback to the party and a sure-way for election failure.
Update:
Reports reaching THEWILL from Kokori say the Sunday protest turned violent as irate mobs torched some buildings and a hotel belonging to some prominent indigenes of the community.
The private residence of the member representing Ethiope East Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon Akpodiogaga Emeyese, was amongst the properties torched.
A building belonging to Senior Advocate of Nigerian, Chief Efe Akpofure was also razed.
The trios were accused of indifference and apathy towards the community during the military invasion.
Sources told THEWILL that the Friday’s attack on the palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Ogurimerime Ukori 1, during the visit of the PDP Delta Central Senatorial District candidate, Chief Emmanuel Agwariavwodo was not actually targeted on the candidate but on the monarch who the youths accused of playing politics while his community is on fire.
THEWILL has not independently verified the claims but a source from the community said that the protest by the women was apparently hijacked by youths who went berserk to torch the buildings.
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