ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The police in Bayelsa State have arraigned 12 women on charges of unlawful assembly and use of jujus (charms) to block the ongoing construction of the Yenagoa-Oporoma road by the state government.
The suspected women protesters said to be demonstrating against the exclusion of their community in the road construction project are from Agobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects are Madam Nerisa John (43), Christiana Famous (36), Dolphina Ochai (34), Flora Clinton (55), Ayibanua Lucky (33) and Motoko Oyibadoemi (54).
Others include Amilo Brandy (30), Tuebi Romeo (25), Ayibaegben Godbless (40), Becky Williams (37), Ayababy Kwoli (50) and Falaba David (30).
In the two counts against the women before the Magistrates’ Court, Oporoma Division, the police accused them of conspiring among themselves to commit felony with unlawful assembly on November 24 and 30, 2021 at Agobiri community in Oporoma magisterial district.
In the charge sheet, the police said that by that act, they committed an offence punishable under Section 444 (d) of the Criminal Code Law, cap c14 Laws of Bayelsa State, 2006.
The charge sheet read: “That you (all the accused) and others at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, with intent to carry out a common purpose, did assemble in such a manner by blocking the ongoing Oporoma-Yenagoa road construction with sticks, plantain, jujus and. palm fronts.
“You caused persons in the neigbourhood to fear and tumultuously disturb the peace of the people using access road without reasonable occasion and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 54 and punishable under Section 55 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C14 laws of Bayelsa State.”
It was gathered that the women were reportedly arrested during their protest against the alleged exclusion of their community from the communities to benefit from the Oporoma-Yenagoa road construction project.
They had allegedly threatened to stop the road project if the Douye Diri administration did not include their community as a beneficiary of the road project.