May 09, (THEWILL) – Aged women and men numbering over eighty (80) from Ndukwe village in Amasiri community in Afikpo Local government area of Ebonyi State, on Thursday, stormed the Nigerian Army Military Cantonment, Nkwegu, to demand the immediate release of two of their sons, who were allegedly arrested by soldiers of Nkwegu Military Cantonment.
The aged persons came to inquire the whereabouts of one Lawrence Ikpe and Onwuamaeze Caleb Uche, who were allegedly arrested by suspected soldiers after a security meeting held at Afikpo local government area recently.
Onwuamaeze Caleb Uche is Ndukwe Youths leader, while Lawrence Ikpe is Chairman, Uke Ndukwe Ruling Council.
At the Nkwegu Military Cantonement, the aged women were seen sprawling and rolling on the ground, begging for the release of their sons.
THEWILL 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 grasses in one of the primary schools in preparation for resumption if school penultimate week.
In an interview with one of the elders from the community, Chief Simon Eze Idam, told journalists that rather than security agents arresting people from Edda for allegedly kidnapping and killing five persons of Ndukwe community, two of their sons; Lawrenece Ikpe and Onwu Amaeze were arrested and detained by the army.
He further alleged that they have spent over one million naira trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the arrested persons.
“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 grasses at Akanto Ndukwe primary school in preparation for our children 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 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.
We don’t understand why the soldiers are still detaining them days after His Excellency, Builder Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru directed that they should be released.
“Unfortunately, the Commandant is not on seat. We were told he accompanied the state and other stakeholders to Effium community were 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.
All 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.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
