In Bayelsa state no fewer than 12 women from Agobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local government area have been arraigned by the police, their offence, being alleged plot to scuttle the ongoing construction of Yenagoa – Oporoma road by the state government with charms.
The accused include, Nerisa John,43, Christiana Famous,36, Dolphins Ochai, 34, Flora Clinton, 55, Ayinanua Lucky, 33, and Motoko Oyihadoemi, 54.
Others are Amilo Brandy,30, Tuebi Romeo,25, Ayibaegben Godbless,40, Becky Williams, 37, Ayababy Kwoli, 50, and Falaba David,30.
These women were alleged to be carrying out a peaceful demonstration that the road should pass through their community for them to have a sense of belonging.
However, the police in a two-count charge filed by the magistrate court Oporoma District, accused them, the protesting women of conspiracy to commit a felony.
The charge read” that you the accused and others at large, on the said day and place in the aforementioned magisterial district with the intent to carry out a common purpose, did in such manner by blocking the ongoing Oporoma – Yenanagoa road construction with sticks, plantains, juju, palm fronds causing persons in the neighbourhood to fear and tumultuously disturbed the peace of the people using and accessing the road without reasonable occasion, thereby committing an offence, contrary to section 54 and punishable under section 55 of the criminal code cap 14 laws of Bayelsa state.”
The protesters pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of 50,000 each with one surety who owned a property.
The presiding Magistrate A.N.Asuku adjourned the case till December 6, 2021.
The Agobiri women were protesting against alleged exclusion from the communities to benefit from the road project.
They had allegedly threatened to stop the road construction if the senator Douye Diri led government refused to include their communities in the road project.