Over 80 Aged Women, Men Protest, Demand Release Of Detainees From Nkegwu Cantonment
Alex Odeh
Aged women and men numbering over eighty (80) from Ndukwe village in Amasiri community in Afikpo Local government area of Ebonyi State, have protested and demanded the immediate release of two of their sons, who were allegedly arrested by soldiers of Nkwegu Military Cantonment.
The aged persons were at the Nkwegu Military Cantonment last Friday to inquire the whereabouts of one Lawrenece Ikpe and Onwuamaeze Caleb Uche , who were allegedly arrested by suspected soldiers after a security meeting held at Afikpo local government area recently.
Until their arrest, Onwuamaeze Caleb Uche and Lawrence Ikpe are Ndukwe Youths Leader and Ndukwe Chairman, Uke Ndukwe Ruling Council respectively.
At the Nkwegu Military Cantonement, the aged women were seen sprawling and rolling on the ground, begging for the release of their sons.
It was gathered that their arrest followed the crisis between the people of Edda in Edda local government area during which five persons were allegedly kidnapped and killed when they went to clear grasses from one of the primary schools in preparation for resumption penultimate week.
During an interview with one of the elders from the community, Simon Eze Idam, who told journalists that rather than security agents arrest people from Edda for allegedly kidnapping and killing five persons of Ndukwe community, two of their sons; Lawrenece Ikpe and Onwu Amaeze were arrested and detained by the army.
He further alleged that they have spent over one million naira trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the arrested persons.
“We the elders of Ndukwe autonomous community from Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State are here today in Nkwegu military cantonment to appeal for release of our sons; Lawrence Ikpe and Onwuameze Caleb Uche arrested on the 10th of March 2025.
“The youths went to clear grasses at Akante Ndukwe primary school in preparation for our children school reopening when they were attacked by Edda people. Five of them were kidnapped. As if that was not enough, when the council chairman called for peace meeting two of our youths were arrested at the meeting venue by men of the Nigerian Army.
“Since that day, we have been sending delegates to come and meet the Army Commandant on moves to release the arrested youth leaders, but all to no avail . That is why we the elders both men and women are here to see the Commandant ourselves.
“Unfortunately,the Commandant is not on seat. We were told he accompanied the state Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and other stakeholders to Effium community were land demarcation is expected to take place today as a measure to stop the crisis they have there.
“We appeal for release of our sons, that’s all’, he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the cantonment Commandant were unsuccessful as he was said to have accompanied the state governor for the flag-off of land demarcation in Effium community.
