The bedlam trailing the alleged disruption of the 2022 august meeting of Ebonyi women by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State through the agency of Ebubeagu Security Network is instructive.
August meetings have become trade marks of Igbo women who hold it annually to discuss and raise funds for community development.
This year’s Ebonyi women august meeting, organized under the aegis of Ebonyi Federated Women Organizations, with the theme, “Women as nation builders” was to hold at the Peoples Club, Abakaliki on Saturday, 20th August, 2022. Resource persons like Anambra-born chartered accountant, Mrs Uzoamaka Okoli; Kebbi-born development consultant and Gender/Human Rights Advocate, Dr. Bilkisu Magoro; among others were on hand to hone Ebonyi women for their roles as nation builders when gun-totting Ebubeagu Security operatives allegedly stormed the venue, manhandled the women and abducted some to Ebonyi Government House where the women were said to have been beaten up, stripped naked and detained.
When the hapless Ebonyi women and their guests from Ebonyi, Anambra, Edo, Bayelsa and other States matched through the streets of Abakaliki in protest, Ebonyi State Information Commissioner, Uchenna Orji, denied any such incident and branded the women, mere dramatists.
In a doublespeak, Ebonyi State Commander of Ebubeagu, Panchris Eze, who allegedly led the operation, said that on receipt of a security information, Ebubeagu operatives actually went to Peoples Club to “prevent breakdown of law and order”!
