How Delta ‘Hunger’ Protest Escalated, Turned Bloody

A peaceful protest by hundreds of women and children over imposed coronavirus lockdown and curfew in Sapele, Delta state, on Wednesday turned bloody after the protest was escalated by hoodlums.

BIGPEN reported that women had at the early hours of the day defied the lockdown order by the state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for people to stay at home for another two week as practical measures to contain the spread of the virus.

The lockdown began April 1, and was extended by another 14-days by Governor Okowa who promised to open a food bank recently established because of the hardship posed by the restrictions.

“We have also put up a food bank and we are getting the last supplies of our initial orders and by the grace of God, in the next 48 to 72 hours, food will be sent across to support those who do not have access to food in all wards of the State”, the governor had said during a state broadcast.

However, barely 48 hours after the broadcast, women joined by some children, poured into the streets, accusing the state government of insensitivity in the extension of the lockdown done without first sending relief materials to them.

They called on the governor to rescind his decision to extend the Lockdown, saying they now have shortage of food to feed their families.

It was learnt that while the protesters were processing toward Olympia junction where they were later urged to disperse by the Council Chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan, some group of youths joined the demonstration from where the protest escalated.

Police who were drafted to monitored the protest, were said to have fired tear gas at the protesters when the scene became violent resulting from the council chairman’s bid to pacify the protesters.

Reports says three persons including a woman were shot by vigilante group members deployed to dispersed the protesters with one shot from the back while fleecing the scene.

Several other protesters were injured while scampering for dear lives.

State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, said that the protest was hijacked midway by hoodlums who wanted to use the opportunity to loot lockup stores.

She said that those arrested were suspected hoodlums who turned the protest violent and looted some shops in the area.

A report in Advocate newspaper, quoted one of the women leader, Madam Tina Akpometiro as saying: “We prefer to come outside and die than to be locked indoor, we have stayed inside for two weeks we can’t go to the market, we can’t go anywhere, we are hungry, we will not accept this.

“We are hungry and we don’t want food, let us go out and fend for ourselves. We want to go back to our normal lives; we are tired of sitting at home”

A Keke rider who called himself Jonah Ameh said, “though the step, was the right thing, they were tired of not being able to fend for their family and want an end to the lockdown”

Others, who spoke were Sapele-Okpe Community leader Dr Vincent Ekariko, and Mr Aderopo Peters, a doctor, who demanded the immediate release of food items, saying Deltans are hungry.

“If you say people should stay at home, tell me, what will they eat, while the leaders stock their home with foodstuff, no water, no electricity, no food for the poor ones, what do you want them to do? They should stay at home and die? “Dr Ekariko asks.

A source said that the protest escalated after the protesting women rebuffed the plea of the council Chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan who urged them to go back home as the state government is working out modalities to distribute the palliatives to cushion the effects of the 14days lockdown extension.