Tens of Igbo women who protested naked over their dead or missing children are being held in filthy cells in Imo State, the Journalists for Democratic Rights, (JODER) said in a statement in Friday.

JODER said about 100 Igbo women are being held by the police amidst frivolous charges being filed against them.

The police have tagged them terrorists and felons even though they only protested with roses, shrubberies, plants and pamphlets.

“The women are in very difficult situations. The Imo state government in collaboration with the Federal Government is keeping the women away from their relatives and lawyers. They have been tortured. About 50 of them are ill and their health is deteriorating,” the statement signed by Adewale Adeoye stated.

At the heart of the issue in the South East is the principle of self-determination which is prominently embodied in Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations which states that people have the right to determine their own political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

The pro-media rights group said the women were hauled into detention by the Nigerian police even in their half-naked form. JODER said some about 10 of the women have not been allowed to change their sanitary pads and were left to soak in blood by the Nigerian authorities.

“We call for the unconditional release of these innocent Igbo women. They are being charged for felony. 80 of them are between the ages of 20 and 45. The remaining 20 are mothers and grandmothers. Their only offence was that they protested to know the whereabouts of their children. The missing or dead children were members of the Igbo self-determination groups that organized peaceful protests in 2016”

JODER said the continuous detention of the women constitutes barbaric violations of their right to free speech and lawful assembly as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.

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