Gbaramatu women give ultimatum for release of students

Yoruba, Ijaw leaders restate call for community policing

The ever-busy Warri-Sapele Road in Warri, Delta state was shut down for several hours yesterday as hundreds of aggrieved Gbaramatu women and the National Association of Gbaramatu Students (NAGS) took to the streets to protest the continued of 10 students by the military for their alleged membership of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

They are demanding the release of the youths within a week or face another massive protest in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Led by Chief Vero Tangnowei, the women chanted solidarity songs brandishing placards with several inscriptions. Some of them read: “ This is pure oppression, stop labeling them as members of NDA,” “Mr. President, Free our sons Now”, “ No child born to be taken # free our sons”, “ We need them back in school # Free our students”, “ Mr. President # free our brothers. Time is running out”, they are not NDA”

Others include “They are students of Gbaramatu Grammar School Oporoza” Bring Back our sons alive”, “ #10 boys are still in detention # free our brothers. They are the future.”

She accused government of wrongfully labelling their sons as militants.

Meanwhile, the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) yesterday reiterated their call for community policing, insisting that it was the only means to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the country.

The leaders, who met at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba (Dr) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo in Sagamu, Ogun State, said the purpose of their meeting was to rub minds with stakeholders in the area to ensure peace among residents.

The YUF was led by Mr. Yinka Odumakin while the INC has Chief Francis Dokpola as its head.