Umuahia — THERE was pandemonium in the commercial city of Aba and Umuahia, the Abia State capital yesterday as some youths chased women who wore trousers about and attempted to tear their wears on the streets.

But in a swift reaction, the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Mercy Orji condemned the action of the youths, insisting that nobody should take the laws into his hands. The state government has also issued a statement on the matter describing as illegal harassment of the females on trousers.

It was not clear at press time what caused the problem, but passers-by suddenly saw some youths chasing girls on trousers on the streets and in some cases forced them to provided money with which the youth bought skirts from nearby stores and gave them to the girls to change into.

Many females who traveled to the state from other parts of the country were taken unawares and had to remain in the vehicles that brought them to the two towns. Some security operatives at some check points also seized the opportunity to extort money from some of the girls before allowing them to go.

Mrs Orji who was worried by the development urged the youths to stop harassing people.