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TakeItBack Movement Demands Release Of Detained IPOB Women

“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," the movement stated.

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The TakeItBack Movement has added its voice to the calls for the release of the members of the Women Wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who are currently being detained by the Police in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

A statement by Rachel Onamusi-Kpiasi, Director, Public Relations, Media and Communication of TakeItBack Movement/Sowore2019, on Friday, condemned the “unjust detention” of the women, stating that it is a “disregard of the fundamental human rights of citizens”.

The movement noted that the women, who carried out their “protest and caused neither harm nor disturbance to civic peace” were “rounded up like cattle”.

The statement read: “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!”