By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

THE International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, has alleged that no fewer than 150 defenseless women, from Southeast and Igbo-speaking areas of Rivers State, falsely labelled as members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, and Eastern Security Network, ESN, have been arrested, detained and not taken to court by Nigerian security agents.

Intersociety, in a statement signed by its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, Head, of Democracy and Good Governance Programme, Chinwe Umeche, Head of Civil Liberties, Rule of Law Programme, Obianuju  Igboeli, and Head of Public Campaign Publicity Department, Chidinma Udegbunam stated that  ‘”In two years, October 2020 to October 2022, Army, Police, others arrested 150 defenseless women in the South East, falsely labeled them pro-Biafra group members, tortured and degraded them for six to eighteen months without trial or securing a single conviction against them”

Citing the cases of Ifeyinwa Egolu, Maria Ezediaru, Ngozi Umadi, Oluchi Madumere, Melody Anyanwu, and 53 freed Obigbo women from Rivers State, the group alleged that the women mostly between 50 to 60 years were arrested under the guise of crushing Biafra agitation and agitators.

Intersociety statement read: “Defenseless women in Eastern Nigeria belonging to Judeo-Christian Igbo Ethnic Nationality, mostly in their non-menopausal age brackets have continued to bear the brunt of the Nigerian military, Police and DSS atrocious conduct.

“The atrocities against members of the defenseless civilian population in the old Eastern Region in the past two years or October 2020 to Oct 2022, have been unspeakable and unbearable.

“Generally speaking, not less than 300 defenseless women have been arrested in connection with false ‘Biafra membership’ accusations, and out of this number; no fewer than 150 were brutally tortured, degraded and others paid through their noses to secure their freedom.”