We strongly protest the unjust detention of 127 Nigerian women in Owerri, Imo State, and are outraged at the biased treatment of Nigerians in their own country.
Nigerians are slaughtered mercilessly at an increasingly disturbing frequency by herdsmen and the present government neither speaks nor acts. There have been zero arrests of the perpetrators and no compensation for the surviving victims.
Boko Haram has decimated the North with scant retribution save for the present government swelling their coffers in ransom money.
But women – our mothers, wives and sisters – who carried out a peaceful protest and caused neither harm nor disturbance to civic peace are quickly rounded up like cattle. The government’s disregard of the fundamental human rights of her citizens, as well as the reports of starvation of the arrested women since their incarceration points to a disrespect for human life and well-being.
Carrying IPOB memorabilia can never be sufficient justification for this gross miscarriage of justice.
The TakeitBack Movement fundamentally believes that all Nigerians have a right to peaceful protests. We also believe that raising questions about the restructuring of Nigeria is an inalienable right.
Again, we ask, where is the Justice? While men who have maimed and killed hundreds walk around free and unfettered, our mothers from the South East are in prison for raising a flag.
We demand the immediate release of these women.
Nigeria MUST progress!
Rachel Onamusi-Kpiasi
Director, PR, Media and Communication
TakeItBack Movement/Sowore2019