The people of Obeagu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, took to the streets on Monday, protesting what they called persistent harassment, persecution and unlawful arrest of their indigenes by policemen from Awgu Divisional Command.
They are now begging Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the Inspector General of Police to come to their aid.
The villagers carried placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the Police Brutality”, “DPO Awgu stop the harassment”, “CP/IGP call Awgu DPO to order”.
The President General of the community, Ogbuefi Callistus Ojogbu, who spoke to journalists, alleged that the police who are supposed to protect the lives and properties of citizens have taken sides in a land dispute and gone ahead to unleash terror on law-abiding citizens.
Ojogbu said that policemen from the Awgu police division entered the community and demolished a building on a piece of land in contention between a member of the community and someone in the neighbouring village, arresting men and harassing women and their children in the process.
The President General called for a thorough investigation into the actions of the police officers involved and urged the government to ensure that justice was served.
He emphasised that the community would not allow such injustice but would continue to fight for their rights through peaceful means.
Similarly, the Secretary, Igwe in Council, Ogbuefi Nnanyelugo Dennis noted that they were peace loving and law abiding citizens and should not be treated like outlaws in their own land.
Also speaking, the women leader of the community, Mrs. Janet Aniokete, while narrating their ordeal, alleged that a widow was sexually harassed in one of the early morning raids by the police.
The community pressed the immediate and unconditional release of three persons being held at the Awgu Police Division.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain reactions from the police have been unsuccessful.