Protesting women numbering over 50 from Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State on Saturday locked up Bolingo Ranch Hotel for allegedly harbouring hoodlums suspected to be members of the Eastern Security network (ESN).
The Nation reported that the angry women, barricaded the facility hotel, expressing the fear that it would be dangerous for residents of the community if the hotel continued to harbour individuals being sought by security agencies.
The management of the hotel, however, described the action of the women as blackmail intended to mislead the public.
Its Managing Director, Emeka Madueke, alleged the women were being deceived by enemies who wanted the operators of the hotel out of business.
Madueke said: “The former owner of the hotel after leasing the hotel for 20 years decided to take it back before the expiration of the lease period.
“Because the owners of the hotel resisted, they cooked up the story of harbouring kidnappers to the gullible women.
“They took us to the traditional ruler that the hotel is a den of kidnappers. After investigation, they found out that what they accused us of was not true.”
When approached to explain their action, the women refused to talk to journalists.
They rather attacked the reporters and ordered them to leave the community.
