Twelve women protesters from Aguobiri Community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Council Area of Bayelsa State, who were arraigned for allegedly disturbing the peace and using occultic charms to stop ongoing construction work on the Yenagoa-Oporoma road project have regained their freedom after fulfilling bail conditions set by the Magistrate Court hearing the matter.
The case is the fallout of a prolonged altercation between the Bayelsa State Government and the people of Aguobiri Community who are demanding inclusion in the road project owing to the blockage of the Sylva River which is their primary access route and source of livelihood.
After series of complaints on the negative effects of the river blockage to the Bayelsa State Government, which members of the community say have yielded no positive outcome, angry women of Aguobiri were reported to have staged a protest at the project site demanding for the construction of an alternative road to the town. This led to the arrest and arraignment of several women by the police.
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During preliminary proceedings on the case at the Oporoma Division of the Magistrate Court Holden in Yenagoa, Presiding Magistrate, A.N Asuku gives approval for bail and adjourns further hearing to December 20th, 2021.
The Yenagoa-Oporoma road Construction project is expected to connect many riverine hinterland communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council Area to other mainland parts of Bayelsa State when fully completed.
Editor: Hadiza.A.A