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| Women protesting lockdown extension in Sapele, Delta state |
By Shedrack Onitsha,
There is palpable tension in Sapele, Delta State following the
alleged shooting of a 15 years old boy, simply identified as Christian
Okeogwale and one other, during a protest by some women over the extension of
COVID-19 lockdown in the State, without palliative.
It was gathered the protest was going peacefully when
security men attacked the protesters, in a bid to dismiss the protesters and
allegedly Christian Okeogwale on the hip and the other on his leg.
ADVOCATE had earlier reported that Delta women numbering over 3000 today
took to the streets of Sapele, Sapele Local Government of Delta State, in a
protest against what they described as insensitivity of the state government
for extending the COVID-19 lockdown for 14 days without palliatives.
The governor had on Tuesday in a broadcast to Deltans
announced the extension of the sit at home order which began on April 1, by
14-days and also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew across the state to cut down on
peoples’ movement.
The women in defiance of the Governor’s order, at
about 7 a.m stormed the streets of the once peaceful timber town, demanding an
end to the lockdown, saying that the actions of the state government since the
COVID-19 pandemic started lacks a human face.
Some of them were chanting, “we no go gree o, we no go gree” by some
of the women, others chanted “freedom, freedom” the women in their thousands
were joined by other residents of the town including artisans, tricycle
motorcycle riders, and others.
One of the women leader, Madam Tina Akpometiro who spoke to ADVOCATE said: “We prefer
to come outside and die than to be locked indoor, we have stayed inside for two
weeks we can’t go to the market, we can’t go anywhere, we are hungry, we will
not accept this.
“We are hungry and we don’t want food, let us go out
and fend for ourselves. We want to go back to our normal lives; we are tired of
sitting at home.”
A Keke (tricycle) rider who called himself Jonah Ameh
said “though the step, was the right thing, they were tired of not being able
to fend for their family and want an end to the lockdown.”
Others, who spoke were Sapele-Okpe Community leader,
Dr Vincent Ekariko, and Mr. Aderopo Peters, a doctor, who demanded the
immediate release of food items, saying Deltans are hungry.
“If you say people should stay at home, tell me, what
will they eat, while the leaders stock their home with foodstuff, no water, no
electricity, no food for the poor ones, what do you want them to do? They
should stay at home and die? “Dr Ekariko asks.
The protesting women rebuffed the plea of the council
Chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan, urging them to go back home as the state
government is working out modalities to distribute the palliatives to cushion
the effects of the 14-day lockdown extension.
ADVOCATE gathered that
the grouse of the women is that apart from Chief Emmanuel Udugahan, who sent
some palliatives to the people of Sapele, which they also said was allegedly
shared to PDP members by the council chairman, none of the political leaders in
Sapele has reached out to the people.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Sapele Local Government Area,
Hon Eugene Inoaghan has called on all residents of Sapele to remain calm
following today’s protest over the extension of the sit-at-home order by the
state government.
Inoaghan who expressed his shock at the protest said
“the governor feels their pain and the pain to extend the lockdown was in the
best interest of Deltans. COVID-19 is real and the best way to stop the deadly
disease from spreading is by taking these decisions. We feel your pain and soon
we will get across to you in every way we can to cushion the effect.”
ADVOCATE also gathered
that some of the protesters have been arrested by the Police and are currently
in detention, while the police also continued raiding the town, arresting any
young boy or girl insight.
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