Panic as 12 women arraigned for allegedly obstructing road construction with ‘Juju’ in Bayelsa

By Timi Black

Pandemonium as the police charged to court about twelve women in Agobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, for allegedly attempting to obstruct ongoing road construction of the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road by placing charms on the road.

The name of the accused persons were given as Nerisa John, 43; Christiana Famous, 36; Dolphina Ochai, 34; Flora Clinton, 55; Ayibanua Lucky, 33; and Motoko Oyibadoemi, 54.
Others are Amilo Brandy, 30; Tuebi Romeo, 25; Ayibaegben Godbless, 40; Becky Williams, 37; Ayababy Kwoli, 50; and Falaba David, 30.

In a two-count charge filed before the magistrate’s court, Oporoma division, the police accused the protesting women of conspiracy to commit a felony.

The charge reads: “You (all the accused) and others at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, with intent to carry out a common purpose, did assemble in such a manner by blocking the ongoing Oporoma-Yenagoa Road construction with sticks, plantain, juju, palm fronds, causing persons in the neighbourhood to fear and tumultuously disturb the peace of the people using access road without reasonable occasion, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 54 and punishable under Section 55 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C14 Laws of Bayelsa State.”

But the accused women pleaded not guilty and were granted bail with the sum of N50,000 each with one surety who owned landed property.

A.N Asuku, the presiding magistrate, adjourned the case till December 6, 2021.

It was gathered that the Agobiri women were arrested during a protest against alleged exclusion among communities to benefit from the road project.

The angry women reportely threatened to stop the road project if the Governor Douye Diri-led administration did not include their community in the road infrastructure.