Lockdown Protest: Police drops charges against 18 arrested protesters in Delta, caution them

By Shedrack Onitsha,

The Police authority in Delta State, on Monday, dropped charges against the woman who led the protests over the state government extension of lockdown in Sapele, Delta State, Mrs Rosslyn Akpamrdo, and 17 others, following the intervention of some stakeholders from Sapele.

Recall that women in their hundred took to the street in a protest against what they described as insensitivity of the state government who extended the coronavirus lockdown for 14days with dusk to dawn curfew, without palliatives.

The Police had on Wednesday last arrested Mrs Rosslyn Akpamrdo, and 17 others, over their alleged involvement in civil unrest and were taken to Asaba, where they were detained for a breach of public peace and violation of COVID-19 lockdown order of the state government.

ADVOCATE reliably gathered that the woman leader and others were billed to be arraigned at a Magistrate Court at the state capital, but for the timely intervention of the Sapele local government Chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan and Rev Fr. Christopher Ekabo.

The police authority following their intervention cautioned the protesters and dropped the planned arraignment and the charges preferred against them.

When contacted, Rev Fr. Christopher Ekabo, a member Delta Christian Pilgrimage Board, confirmed their release saying that they are just perfecting their bail papers and will soon head back to Sapele.

According to him; “18 persons were arrested by the DPO and was transferred to the State CID at Asaba, and they were to be arraigned in Court on Monday, though we have been reaching out to the police authority since Thursday last week, by Monday we succeeded in persuading them not to charge them to court and they should be released.

On Tuesday they agreed to release them without pressing charges against them, but you know they have to process their papers for their release, so no charges preferred against them, they were cautioned, once they perfect their bail, they will be back to Sapele,”

When ADVOCATE contacted the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya for confirmation, she promised to get back to us, however, as, at the time of filing this report, she is yet to get back to us.

As the time of this report, the arrested protested are yet to return to Sapele, this may not be unconnected to their inability to meet an alleged #25,000 each bail bond, a condition for their release from the police custody at Asaba.

Meanwhile, those who sustained gunshot wound as a result of the protest are still receiving treatment at Central Hospital Sapele and one at a private hospital following how critical his case was.