Update: Boy, 15, one other shot as women protest against lockdown turn bloody in Delta

By Shedrack Onitsha,

There is palpable tension in Sapele, Delta State following the alleged shooting of a 15 years old boy, simply identified as Christian Okeogwale and one other, during a protest by some women over the extension of COVID-19 lockdown in the State, without palliative.

It was gathered the protest was going peacefully when security men attacked the protesters, in a bid to dismiss the protesters and allegedly Christian Okeogwale on the hip and the other on his leg.

ADVOCATE had earlier reported that Delta women numbering over 3000 today took to the street of Sapele, Sapele local government Delta State, in a protest against what they described as insensitivity of the state government for extending the COVID-19 lockdown for 14days without palliatives.

The governor had on Tuesday in a broadcast Deltans announced the extension of the sit at home order which began on April 1, by 14-days and also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew across the state to cut down on peoples’ movement.

The women in defiance of the Governor’s order, at about 7 a.m stormed the street of the once peaceful timber demanding an end to the lockdown, saying that the actions of the state government since the COVID-19 pandemic started lacks a human face.

Some of the were chanting “we no go gree o, we no go gree” by some of the women, others chanted “freedom, freedom” the women in their thousands were joined by other residents of the town including artisans, tricycle motorcycle riders, and others.

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One of the women leader, Madam Tina Akpometiro who spoke to ADVOCATE said: “We prefer to come outside and die than to be locked indoor, we have stayed inside for two weeks we can’t go to the market, we can’t go anywhere, we are hungry, we will not accept this.

“We are hungry and we don’t want food, let us go out and fend for ourselves. We want to go back to our normal lives; we are tired of sitting at home”

A Keke rider who called himself Jonah Ameh said “though the step, was the right thing, they were tired of not being able to fend for their family and want an end to the lockdown”

Others, who spoke were Sapele-Okpe Community leader Dr Vincent Ekariko, and Mr Aderopo Peters, a doctor, who demanded the immediate release of food items, saying Deltans are hungry.

“If you say people should stay at home, tell me, what will they eat, while the leaders stock their home with foodstuff, no water, no electricity, no food for the poor ones, what do you want them to do? They should stay at home and die? “Dr Ekariko asks.

The protesting women rebuffed the plea of the council Chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan, urging them to go back home as the state government is working out modalities to distribute the palliatives to cushion the effects of the 14days lockdown extension.

 

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ADVOCATE gathered that the grouse of the women is that apart from Chief Emmanuel Udugahan, who sent some palliatives to the people of Sapele, which they also said was allegedly shared to PDP members by the council chairman, none of the political leaders in Sapele has reached out to the people.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Sapele local government area, Hon Eugene Inoaghan has called on all residents of Sapele to remain calm following today protest over the extension of the sit-at-home order by the state government.

Inoaghan who expressed his shock at the protest said “the governor feels their pain and the pain to extend the lockdown was for the best interest of Deltans. COVID-19 is real and the best way to stop the deadly disease from spreading is by taking these decisions. We feel your pain and soon we will get across to you in every way we can to cushion the effect.”

ADVOCATE also gathered that some of the protesters have been arrested by the Police and are currently in detention, while the police also continue raiding the town, arresting any young boy or girl insight.