Irate youths Saturday brought commercial activities in Anambra State to a standstill over alleged plan by the Federal Government to transfer suspected Boko Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area.
Hundreds of protesters barricaded major roads in the state, including the Head Bridge and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Onitsha, as well as the popular Zik Avenue in Awka, causing traffic gridlock for several hours.
They carried placards with inscriptions like “We don’t want Boko Haram prisoners in Anambra”, “Buhari, Igbos will not accept your prisoners”, “Biafra kanyi choro (We want Biafra)”, “Anambra is special and secured”, “Anambra is not a party to terrorists and should not be involved in it”, “We say no to Boko Haram people in Anambra” and “Buhari, why Anambra”.
Policemen in Onitsha were later seen firing teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.
The security operatives, later joined by soldiers stationed at the Uga junction on Atani Road, were also seen removing the barricades used by the youths to block the roads.
At the Ekwulobia Prison, which was named as the likely new abode for the Boko Haram prisoners, there was nothing on ground to show that a large number of inmates were brought in there. Some officials of the prison however said that they heard a rumour that some prisoners from the northern part of the country would be brought there.
According to them, “there was nothing on ground to show that new inmates were being expected as the situation here has not changed.”
President General of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, (AMATAS), Dr. Okwudili Ezenwankwo, who addressed reporters in Onitsha, said they had from a very reliable source that plans had been concluded to bring suspected Boko Haram prisoners to the state, adding that they would do everything within their power to resist it.
“We have our ears on ground and that is the much we can say for now. We were informed that federal government wants to transfer the Boko Haram to Anambra State and this is unacceptable to us.
“If you visit the Ekwulobia Prison, you will discover that something is going on there. We are not against President Muhammadu Buhari, but we want him to keep these special prisoners where they belong.
“We know our president is a good man and he will not do anything that will cause insecurity in this part of the country to add to the existing one caused by Boko Haram insurgents. Anambra is peaceful and we don’t want Boko Haram to come and cause confusion,” Ezenwankwo said.
He added that the traders have already brought the matter to the attention of Governor Willie Obiano, who has been mandated to take their protest over the matter to Buhari.
But Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) said there was no plan to transfer Boko Haram suspects in custody to prisons in Anambra State as being speculated.
The NPS Public Relations Officer, Francis Enebore, said most of the terror suspects in prison custody are still awaiting trial and cannot be moved out of the jurisdiction of the court where they would be prosecuted.
He dismissed speculations that the prison authorities had formalised plans to transfer terror suspects to Anambra State.
Enebore said, “Most of the terror suspects are awaiting trial and so, there is no way they can be moved to another state because they must be tried in the state where they committed the crime.
“Apart from this, our duty is to move them from prison to court for trial and since they have not been convicted, how can we transfer them to other states outside the jurisdiction of the court where they would be tried? People are just saying things they know nothing about, there is no truth to the rumours that we are transferring terror suspects to other states.”
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Uche Eze, however said the situation was under control and there was no need to panic.
He advised the people of the state to go about their businesses without fear of molestation.
