Hundreds of aggrieved women from Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday protested the arrest and continued detention of 10 of their youths by the military for alleged involvement in the bombings of oil facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The protesting women alleged that some of the youths were writing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) last month when they were seized by the soldiers on the trail of members of the notorious Niger Delta Avengers.
The women, dressed in dark top and skirts, wailed and rolled on the road as they marched along the ever busy Warri-Sapele road in Warri, Delta State, causing traffic gridlock.
They demanded for the release of the children within seven days or face another massive protest in Abuja, the seat of Federal Government.
Some of their placards read: “We need them back in school”, “Mr. President Free Our Brothers Time Is Running Out”, “They are Not NDA, They Are Students of Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza”, “Just Bring Back Our Sons Alive” and “10 Boys Are Still In Detention, Free Our Brothers. They Are The Future”.
According to the women, the youths arrested by the JTF during the military invasion of their communities were not members of any militant groups but school children who were getting set to write exams.
Speaking on behalf of the women, the National leader of Ijaw Women, Veronica Tanbowei, accused the federal government of oppressing the people of Gharamatu kingdom by wrongfully labelling their children as militants.
“If the federal government comes out and tell us that they have killed our children, then they should be ready to kill all of us. We are giving them seven days ultimatum and if they do not allow us to see our children we all will march to Abuja and they will kill all of us.
“Buhari government has sent the army to kill our children, but today we are asking them to bring back our children for us. They should bring our innocent children back to us,” she said.
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