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Police in Bayelsa arraign 12 women for allegedly scuttling road construction with juju

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Bayelsa State Police Command has arraigned about 12 women from Agobiri community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa  for allegedly plotting to scuttle the ongoing construction of the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road by the state government with juju (charms).

The accused are Nerisa John,  Christiana Famous, 36; Dolphina Ochai, Flora Clinton,  Ayibanua Lucky,   Motoko Oyibadoemi, Amilo Brandy,  Tuebi Romeo, 25 Ayibaegben Godbless, Becky Williams, Ayababy Kwoli, and Falaba David

They  were said to be carrying out a demonstration demanding that the road should pass through their community to give residents a sense of belonging.

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

The charge read in part, “That 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.”

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

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

They were accused of threatening to stop the road project if the Governor Douye Diri-led administration did not include their community in the road infrastructure.