The ever-busy Warri-Sapele Road in Warri, Delta State, was shut down for several hours yesterday as hundreds of aggrieved Gbaramatu women and the National Association of Gbaramatu Students (NAGS) took to the streets to protest the continued detention of 10 students by the military for their alleged membership of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

They are demanding the release of the youths within a week or face another massive protest in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Led by Chief Vero Tangnowei, the Ijaw women chanted solidarity songs brandishing placards with several inscriptions. Some of them read: “This is pure oppression, stop labeling them as members of NDA,” “Mr. President, Free our sons Now”, “No child born to be taken #free our sons”, “We need them back in school #Free our students”, “Mr. President #free our brothers. Time is running out, they are not NDA”

Others include “They are students of Gbaramatu Grammar School Oporoza”, “Bring Back our sons alive”, “#10 boys are still in detention #free our brothers. They are the future”.

The women accused government of wrongfully labelling their sons as militants.

•Adapted from a Guardian report. Photo courtesy of The Guardian shows Gbaramatu women and Association of Gbaramu Students during the protest along Warri/Sapele road on Wednesday in Warri, Delta State, demanding the release of 10 students by the military for their alleged membership of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).