Women block highway over arrest of youths

Women from Billiri town in Gombe State yesterday blocked the Gombe-Yola highway  to demand the release of their children arrested by security operatives. The protesting women marched to the road at about 10am, obstructing movement on the highway to and from Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states. They set bonfires with tyres to protest what they […]

Women from Billiri town in Gombe State yesterday blocked the Gombe-Yola highway  to demand the release of their children arrested by security operatives.

The protesting women marched to the road at about 10am, obstructing movement on the highway to and from Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states.

They set bonfires with tyres to protest what they described as unjust arrest of their children, following a clash between youths from Billiri and neighbouring Shomgom LGA, after one David Stephen from Billiri was allegedly shot dead by Shomgom youths.

Witnesses said the trouble started when a group of youths were sent to clear a farm that was in dispute between the two communities for years.

They added that while clearing the farm, they were allegedly attacked by Shomgom people with dangerous weapons, resulting in the death of Stephen and four cows.

“As a result, about 22 youths from Billiri also took dane guns and other weapons and stormed the site, unfortunately they were arrested by the military.

“The women therefore blocked the road to demand the release of their children who they felt were arrested unjustly,” a witness said.

The Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Tairu Shina Olukolu, told newsmen on phone that he was in Billiri to stop the crisis.