The protesters were led by civil rights groups under the aegis of Campaign for Democracy and Civil Liberties Organisation.
Led by Comrades Uzor A. Uzor and Aloysius Attah, they converged on the Uga junction, Fegge Onitsha from where they marched through Zik Avenue to Owerri Road through Awka road.
They carried placards with inscriptions, “military presence unacceptable to us; release Nandi Kane now; we need peace in Onitsha; FG withdraw JTF in Onitsha; four hours in traffic gridlock because of military check-point unacceptable”.
“Extortion has also been part of the intimidation by the soldiers who now have field day harassing the people and asking them to hands up as they pass through the military check-points”..
The Chairman, Civil Liberty Organisation Anambra chapter, Mr. Alloy Attah, said, “The maltreat innocent citizens, it is beyond telling them to raise their arms, the okada and Keke riders suffer a lot in their hands.
“They arrest innocent people, hound them into their vehicles until they part with some money, they were not called here to terrorise Onitsha residents but to safeguard them.
“They should pull them out and investigate some of these issues; we are on our part compiling our reports on the human rights abuses by these people.”
In his reaction via telephone, the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Hassan Karma, said the Police would not be distracted by undue sentiments.
He said the deployment of security personnel in the area had restored peace and normalcy within a short time.
The police boss assured that he would still investigate the case of harassment of people of the area, as alleged.
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