Some residents in Awka, Anambra state, have staged a peaceful protest demanding the police authorities to stamp out the activities of cultists, responsible for criminalities around the area, as well as fish out police officers, allegedly in connivance with the cultists.
The demonstration took off from Ogbugbankwa Park to Eke Awka Roundabout, en route to Igwebuike Parkers Junction, Ukwu Orji, Area Command, and then back to Ogbugbankwa.
The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “enough is enough”, “say no to bribery and corruption”, “we are not happy”, “our children, brothers, husbands, cousins, and relatives are being killed on a daily basis.” among others.
The angry protesters accused some notable police officers of aiding and abetting cultism and cult-related activities in the State.
One of the protesters, Chief Richard Onuorah said community members can no longer bear the atrocities going on in the community, which is turning into a safe haven for cultists.
He called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately remove the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Akin Fakorede, in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department or SCID, and the inspector working under him, Inspector Monday Umana.
The protesters were also seen carrying a mock coffin, signalling the burial of the accused while giving a 7-day ultimatum for the police to do the needful.
The protesters were drawn from Ezinano, made of twenty villages from Awka
Corroborating Chief Onuorah, Comrade Obi Ochije Modilim noted that they were tired of burying their kinsmen and called for an end to what he described as incessant killings and maiming of their people.
Chairman of the Ezinano Community, Mr. Tochukwu Nwokoye, said that they were embarking on a peaceful protest as a way of bringing to an end the unrest in Awka.
