The Nigeria Police Force has released the 112 IPOB women, who were arrested during a protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The women were arrested while peacefully protesting the ‘arrest’ of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu and also demanding a referendum before the 2019 elections.
They were subsequently arraigned at a Magistrate Court by the Police, and charged with "treasonable felony" and "unlawful assembly".
Public outcry followed their arraignment and bail denial, with civil society organisations and other stakeholders, demanding their immediate release.
Confirming their release to SaharaReporters, one of the lawyers representing the women, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said: “All the 112 remaining IPOB women have just been discharged of all the frivolous charges filed against them by the Police.”
He added that the women were received by the people with jubilation.
He, however, noted that the organisation would seek redress, while noting that the action is a "gross violation" of the rights of the women.
He said: “We will take serious action against the Police for the gross violation of their fundamental human rights."
Expressing her delight, Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, urged the people to resist attempts to "trample" on their rights.
She tweeted: “Best News of today: The RELEASE of the #ImoWomenProtesters from Owerri prison. WE as Citizens Collective must NEVER PERMIT the Constitutional Rights of ANY Nigerian to be TRAMPLED on, by especially those whose DUTY it is to DEFEND them. Kudos to their Legal Support Team."
In a related development, some 16 women under the auspices of IPOB, who were arraigned at a separate court, have also been released by the Police.
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