ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Women in their hundreds from Umunneato in Nguru Autonomous community, Aboh Mbaise Local government area of Imo state, on Sunday, continued their protest as they plead with Governor Hope Uzodimma, to intervene for the release of their Traditional Ruler, Eze Leo Nwokocha.
The women protested at Eke Nguru market, in Aboh Mbaise local government area of the State.
Nwokocha was detained by the Police in 28 December, 2022, over alleged involvement with the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).
His arrest came after one of his subjects, known as Chinwedu Nwagwu popularly called Onye Army, suspected to be a member of the IPOB, was arrested by the Police.
Onye Army was reported to have confessed to being involved in several attacks in the state.
The suspect also claimed that Nwokocha was one of the sponsors of their group, a confession that allegedly led to the arrest of the monarch.
Following his arrest, the Umunneato community comprised of Egberede, Eziala and Nguru, have been in pain, and anger saying that the allegation was not true.
A cross-section of the women who spoke to newsmen at the Eke Nguru market said the enemies of the community are now at work and that they wanted to destroy the community and the traditional ruler.
One of the women, Mrs Gertrude Nwaegbu, said: “They carried our tradition and detained him for doing nothing. We are not happy. Our Eze is a good person. Our Governor should help us. Our beloved Governor should help us.
“They are not true our Eze is not involved in any sponsoring of attack in the state. Our enemies want to destroy us. We are calling on God. This is not good.”
Speaking also, Mrs. Florence Opara, said: “We are not happy our eze is not with us. We are begging our governor to come to our help. Our Eze is not problematic. He helps the widow. He helps the needy in our community.
“Everybody is crying. We are suffering. We are tired. We need the Governor to help us. Bad people want to destroy our traditional ruler. We are protesting so that the world will know the truth.”
Adding her voice, Mrs Christaina Ogbonna, said: “We plead to our good governor to help us. since 28th of December. We want the Governor to beg the police that forcefully took him away.
“The truth is that he is not involved in anything that they are accusing him of. Please, our Governor should intervene and free our Eze. The entire community is not happy.”