Aggrieved women of Effium and Ezza-Effium in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have protested the continued detention of their family members and demaded their immediate, and unconditional release.
The detainees have been awaiting trial for the past four years and were arrested by security agents during the communal crisis between Effium and Ezza-Effium communities.
Sources claim that 10 of the detainees have died in detention, while awaiting trial, even as many detainees have either gone blind or are experiencing different medical challenges.
Wives of the detainees while protesting said life has become unbearable for them, since their husbands and children were remanded in prison custody.
They alleged that many of the detainees had died in detention and called on Governor Francis Nwifuru, to intervene and ensure the release of their family members.
Mrs. Uguru Blessing from Effium, said she has been suffering for four years, since her husband was sent to prison.
“My husband has been in prison for over four years now and I don’t know what to do. I really appreciate our governor for the kind of peace he has brought in Effium. I am so happy, I really appreciate him, he is a good man.
“One thing I am begging him, he should please, help us. We are suffering, we are dying. My husband left four children for me and since then, I don’t know what I am doing. The load of two people has turned to one person.
“My children have dropped out of school, they are at home because of my inability to pay their school fees. Our governor should please help us so that our husbands can be released,” she said
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Mrs. Kindness Ekpeta from Ezza, while commending Gov. Nwifuru for restoring peace in Effium, appealed to him to intervene in the imprisonment of their husbands and children so that they can be released.
She alleged that over 10 of their husbands and children in the prison have died, while those that are alive are now very sick.
“I went there last Sunday to visit them and I shed tears because many of them are sick, many are blind because of lack of care. My promise to our governor is that we will continue to support him for bringing peace to Effium,” she stated.
Two other protesting women, Mrs. Martha Nworie and Mrs. Virginia Ufuo from Ezza, lamented that the detention of their husbands and children have brought untold hardship to them as they can no longer carter for their children.
They also appealed to Gov. Nwifuru to assist in releasing their detained family members even as they commended him for restoring peace to the warring communities.
