Abia Women Protest Death of Youth, Akobundu Okorie, During Police Interrogation in Bende

A large crowd of approximately 150 women staged an impassioned protest on Monday by storming the police station in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. The protest was sparked by the death of a local youth, Mr. Akobundu Wisdom Okorie, who reportedly died last week while being interrogated by officers at the station.

The protesting women, carrying green leaves and singing songs of mourning, arrived at the Bende Police Station with some of them visibly overcome with grief, rolling on the ground in front of the building. The demonstrators condemned the officers allegedly involved in the incident and demanded their immediate dismissal from the force and prosecution to ensure they face justice.

Dependable NG reports that some of the women, identified as Madam Chinyere Grace and Mrs. Joy Uwa, expressed shock and demanded answers as to how a young man who willingly honoured a police invitation in good health could be declared dead just a few hours later. The women, praying openly in front of the police station, stated they were committing the matter to God to avenge the youth’s untimely death.

In response to the community outcry and mounting tension, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, visited Bende over the weekend to address the local community. The Commissioner called for calm and assured the residents that the officers directly involved in the interrogation of Mr. Okorie have been taken into custody and are currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Umuahia. CP Danladi Isa assured the community that “justice will be done” in the case.