Scores of youths from the Amaraku community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday took to the streets in protest.
The youth, who obstructed free flow of traffic on the Owerri-Okigwe Expressway, demanded justice in a matter involving an indigene of the community.
According to the protesting youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions, one of the youth leaders of the community, Kelechi Osinulo, has been in detention and awaiting trial since February.
The spokesperson for the demonstrators, Darlington Nwagwu, said the youth were, among other things, demanding the commencement of the case involving Osinulo.
Nwagwu, who described himself as the acting youth president of the community, stated that the youths were also demanding an end to the incessant harassment by security agents.
He stated, “Since February, our president, Kelechi Osinulo, has been awaiting trial at the Okigwe Prisons. Justice should be dispensed. The matter should be heard.
“Amaraku youths are not criminals. We are law-abiding. We believe in the rule of law. Nobody should threaten us with arrests. The murder case is in court and we are trusting that justice will prevail.”
Nwagwu also said the aggrieved youths were demanding equitable distribution of the resources of the community.
“We are indigenes of this community. We are calling on the government to ensure that nobody short-changes us over our community’s resources. The resources are what we use to take care of our families .We can’t go begging,” he added.
Another youth leader, Bartram Iwuala, said the youth were embittered because they had not been treated fairly.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Polycap Debia, who addressed the youth, urged them to articulate their grievances in writing and channel them to the appropriate quarters.
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