Onyinyechi DURU
Some Kalabari women have blocked the road, leading to Abalama community, in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, on a protest.
The protest is aimed at preventing the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, from accessing the Abalama Secondary School field, venue of the civic reception organized in his honour.
The aggrieved women warned Wike to steer clear of their community. The Abalama Secondary School field where the Wike Thanksgiving is being held was also picked by the Ijaw Youth Council as the venue for their meeting.
The women wearing black shirts, blocked the roads with rods, nails, wood, palm fruit, and drums, insisting that they are not a minority
They were carrying placards with inscriptions such as, “he who sees himself as God, can only be God to himself and those who take him for God, not the Kalabari Ijaw” “The Kalabari say you are not welcomed” “Ijaw people rise up and take your rightful place” “Ijaw stand for peace.”
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The women demanded peace in their land and insisted that they were not a minority.
Our correspondent gathered that the Wike-led group has occupied the venue, with singing and dancing while awaiting the FCT Minister’s arrival.
Some of the dignitaries who are at the venue, awaiting Wike’s arrival are, Mr Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Chidi Llyod, the immediate past member representing Bonny Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly and current Commissioner of the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission, Amasenibo Abinye Blessing Pepple, and many others.
A source who is present at the venue revealed that heavily armed security men, police, and army were guarding the place.
The source who doesn’t want his name mentioned also noted that the Ijaw Youth Congress group was being prevented by another heavily armed security personnel from having access to the venue.
In order to disperse the protesting women, the security personnel shot tear gas.
