There was tension in Anambra State yesterday, following reports that 47 Boko Haram suspects have been relocated to Ekwulobia Prisons in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
When the rumour of the alleged relocation broke out weekend, hundreds of youths stormed the streets and all markets in the state were shut in protest.
A visit to Ekwulobia Prisons, however, did not show any sign that new inmates were brought there and the prisons officials said they had not received any signal to that effect.
However, last night, Vanguard reports that the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought to Ekwulobia prisons in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, amid tight security.
Yesterday, agitated people in various parts of the state were seen making telephone calls and Ekwulobia, the fourth largest city in the state, has been getting renewed attention, with those whose relations are serving sentences in the medium security prison expressing worry over the development, which they said would put their relations there at great risk, in view of the antecedents of Boko Haram suspects.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Uju Nwogu, could not confirm the development, even as she said Governor Willie Obiano had gone to Abuja to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.
Following the governor’s absence, the weekly state executive council meeting, which holds every Monday, could not hold yesterday.
Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. James Eze, had in a statement, exonerated the governor from the relocation arrangement.
Eze said further that Governor Obiano’s efforts to establish understanding and achieve speedy and peaceful resolution of the matter went to the highest authorities, adding that he was given assurances that the matter would be looked into, with a view to resolving it.
There were also feelers that traders in the commercial town of Onitsha have vowed to continue their protest, following alleged relocation of the prisoners from the Northern part of the country to Ekwulobia Prisons.
