Nchatancha-Nike Women Protest Alleged Arrest Of Their Children

On Thursday, women from the Nchatancha-Nike Community in Enugu East Local Government Area peacefully protested against the reported arrest of their children and the planned demolitions of properties in their community for a state government project.

These arrests stemmed from a protest in the Enugu community earlier this week, during which youths reportedly attacked a bulldozer with teargas canisters.

In a video posted on X and viewed by West Africa Weekly, the protesting women were seen making their voices heard at the Enugu Government House in the early hours of the day, although details of the outcome are currently unclear.

They held placards with messages that read, ‘Gov. Peter Mbah Bikonu (please) Forgive Our Children’s Action and Release Them from Police Cell.’

Another read, ‘Please Release Our Children. Their Only Offence is Asking You to Stop Demolishing Our Farms.’

Speaking, one of the protesters who appeared to be the protest leader lamented, “We’re aggrieved. Peter Mbah should release our children and our husbands. He has them in cell. Up to 100 buildings were marked. We don’t have a place to live anymore”.

It is worth recalling that West Africa Weekly reported that community members have claimed that despite agreeing to provide the government with 245 hectares of land and receiving assurances of compensation with land from other communities, the government has taken 80% of their land.

Earlier this week, the Enugu State government faulted claims of demolitions, and forceful ejections of residents of Nchatancha Nike, one of the many communities affected by the ongoing construction of New Enugu City, a smart city flagged off by Governor Peter Mbah in October.