Ekwulobia shuts down as residents protest relocation of Boko Haram prisoners

Commercial and social activities were on Tuesday grounded to a halt in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State as residents took to the streets over the alleged relocation of Boko Haram prisoners to the federal prison in the area.
About 47 of the captured Boko Haram prisoners were said to have been relocated to the Ekwulobia prison facility from the North-east.
The protesters included traditional rulers, the clergy, traders, women and youths.
They took over the major streets of Ekwulobia as early as 8 am and marched peacefully to the Aguata council headquarters, then to the adjoining Oko community, former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme’s home town, carrying placards, some of which read, “Buhari don’t export terrorism to the South-east” and “Boko Haram prisoners are not wanted here”, among others.

Business activities were brought to a halt as traders locked up their shops and commercial motorcyclists blared their horns in protest.
The chairman of Aguata council area, Mr. Tony Umeoji, bemoaned the transfer of Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia Prisons, saying it was politically motivated and aimed at stunting the development of the entire South-east, starting from Anambra State.
“I must tell you that this development will chase away intending investors coming to Anambra State, thereby setting back the wheel of progress of the state,” he said, adding that a situation like this called for sober concern because of the apprehension and restiveness it had caused among Ekwulobia people.
“The people are scared and there is a general sense of insecurity in the place. The Ekwulobia Prisons has not got the capacity and facility for such high-risk inmates. The prison was built to house 84 people and there are 133 inmates already, and you are adding another 47 inmates of Boko Haram extraction. That is too much and not healthy at all,” he said.
lso, the lawmaker representing Aguata II constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, Ikem Uzozie, appealed to the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently relocate the Boko Haram inmates to a prison with maximum capacity and facility.
According to him, the development has shattered the relative peace which hitherto existed in the area.
He added that the state House of Assembly may cut short its one-month recess and reconvene with a view to deliberating on the matter and prevail on the presidency to redress the issue.