Over 50 aged women, men protest, demand release of sons arrested by suspected soldiers in Ebonyi 

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

No fewer than Fifty aged men and women from Ndukwe autonomous Community in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Thursday protested against the continued detention of their two sons arrested by suspected soldiers.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the protesters who are elderly people within the age bracket of eighty years and above stormed the Nkwagu military cantonment and demanded for the immediate release of their two sons; Onwuamaeze Caleb Uche and Lawrence Ikpe.

It was gathered that the victims; Lawrence Ikpe is the Chairman, Uke Ndukwe Ruling Council, while Onwuamaeze is the youth leader was arrested by suspected soldiers on 10th March 2025, at the Afikpo council headquarters over alleged involvement in community crisis.

Investigation revealed that the victims; Lawrence Ikpe and Onwu Emaeze, have been in military custody since 10th March 2025, without trial or release.

At the Nkwegu Military Cantonment, the aged women were seen sprawling and rolling on the ground, begging for the release of their sons. 

It was gathered that their arrest followed the crisis between the people of Edda in Edda local government area during which five persons were allegedly kidnapped and killed when they went to clear grass from one of the primary schools in preparation for resumption of school penultimate week. 

One of the elders from the community, Simon Eze Idam, who spoke to journalists shortly after coming out from the Nkwagu military cantonment, said that instead of the security agents to arrest the people from Edda for allegedly kidnapping and killing five persons of Ndukwe community, rather arrested their two sons; Onwuamaeze Caleb Uche and Lawrence Ikpe and have continued to be languishing in military custody.

He further alleged that they have spent over one million naira trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the arrested persons. 

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“We the elders of Ndukwe autonomous community from Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State are here today in Nkwegu military cantonment to appeal for release of our sons; Lawrence Ikpe and Onwuameze Caleb Uche arrested on the 10th of March 2025.

“The youths went to clear grass at Akante Ndukwe primary school in preparation for our children’s school reopening when they were attacked by Edda people. Five of them were kidnapped. 

“As if that was not enough, when the council chairman called for a peace meeting two of our youths were arrested at the meeting venue by men of the Nigerian Army.

“Since that day, we have been sending delegates to come and meet the Army Commandant on moves to release the arrested youth leaders, but all to no avail . That is why we the elders both men and women, are here to see the Commandant ourselves.

“Unfortunately,the Commandant is not on seat. We were told he accompanied the state Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and other stakeholders to Effium community where land demarcation is expected to take place today as a measure to stop the crisis they have there.

“We appeal for the release of our sons, that’s all’, ” he said. 

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the cantonment Commandant were unsuccessful as he was said to have accompanied the state governor for the flag-off of land demarcation in Effium community at the time of filing this report.