Fear of Boko Haram sparks protest in Anambra

Rumours that the authorities were planning to relocate terror suspects, mostly members of the Boko Haram sect, from detention facilities in north east parts of the country to Anambra State sparked protests in the state on Saturday.

Commercial activities were paralysed in Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Agulu, following the protests by traders across the state, who closed shops, and took to the streets.

At Tarzan junction, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, traders and other residents blocked the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway chanting songs suggesting they would be forced to revive the clamour for Biafran Republic if pushed to the wall.

The traders carried placards bearing inscriptions like ‘Buhari should not destroy the peace in Anambra State,’ ‘Biafra kanyi choro’ (We want Biafra), ‘Buhari, Igbos cannot accept your prisoners, ‘We do not want Boko Haram in Anambra,’ ‘Federal Government, why extend Boko Haram to Anambra?’ and ‘Boko Haram prisoners are not allowed here.’

Speaking with journalists during the protests, the Secretary-General, Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Chuma Elucharu, stated that traders in the state decided to shut markets to protest the rumoured relocation of Boko Haram detainees to the state.

Eluchraru said the protests would be continuous until the Federal Government assured that there was no such plan.

While addressing the traders, the President-General of AMATAAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, urged them to be calm, saying further consultation would be made by the association to get clear picture of the situation.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Uche Eze, said there was no need to panic, nothing that the police were handling the situation.

A senior officer in the Nigerian Prisons Service in the state who spoke on the condition of anonymity, however, said they got a signal recently to prepare to receive some detainees of the violent sect.

But the Nigeria Prisons Service has said there is no plan to transfer Boko Haram suspects in custody to prisons in Anambra State as being speculated.

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