FCT Command of the Nigeria Police has debunked media reports that it effected the arrest of former Minister of Education and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign, Oby Ezekwesili along with other members at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, during the groups daily sit-out.
The Command's Public Relations Officer, DSP J Manzah who spoke to Vigil360 said the members were only barred from breaking down law and orders after they breached a security barrier set up by the Police at Unity Fountain. He added that after the Commissioner of Police addressed the members, they were allowed to go about their lawful duties. He said;
“The FCT Police Command wishes to clear the air and set the record straight that it did not arrest or detain Prof Oby Ezekwesili and some members of the Bring Back Our Girls group (BBOG) as being speculated on some social media platforms. It is pertinent to state that they were only brought to the Command to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order as some members of the group reacted violently and broke down security barriers set up by the police to restrict their protest to Unity Fountain.
The members of the group were addressed by the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Sadiq Abubakar Bello who reiterated the commitment of the Command to protect lives and property and enjoined the Bring Back Our Girls members to go about their lawful businesses. After the briefing by the Commissioner of Police, the members of the group left the Command,” he added.
Meanwhile, Oby Ezekwesili insisted that she was detained by the Police. In a series of tweets, the social activist called on President Buhari to order the immediate release of all their members.
Some of her tweets read;
“Today we gathered to do our usual march, and the Nigerian police refused for us to leave the Unity Fountain (in Abuja). Some of our colleagues have already gone and they are going to be giving their press statement there. Those of us that they have locked in here, in particular, they have refused that I should move.
They have built a human prison and have violated my fundamental right to freedom of movement and association and therefore I want it to be on record that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has infringed the constitution by violating my fundamental right to freedom of movement and association and this cannot be allowed to happen in a democracy.
"If there is anyone there listening to this, they must tell President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the IG of Nigerian police to let the officers who have imprisoned me in broad daylight, to let me go about my business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country. I see no reason why my right should be violated. And so right now I will continue to insist that these officers allow me to move out of the Unity Fountain.”
