Police ambush BBOG campaigners in Abuja

Policemen on Thursday cut short the street protest by members of the #BringBackOurGirls movement as they walked along the Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja, distributing fliers to motorists and passers-by to remind them of the plight of the 219 Chibok girls that are still in Boko Haram captivity.

The policemen numbering about 20 barricaded the road with their vehicles at the junction to the  Presidential Villa, a move that enraged the activists who shouted in anger.

The BBOG members raised questions about the billions of naira raised for the victims of terrorism in the country through the Victim Support Fund, noting that the money was not being used to ameliorate the sufferings of Internally Displaced Persons and other victims of the insurgency.

The coalition members, who took off from their regular meeting point, the Unity Fountain, Maitama, after a short session, initially walked to the National Assembly gate where they flayed the lawmakers for proceeding on Christmas holidays while the abducted girls languished in the forest.

A Co-coordinator of the group, Oby Ezekwesili, said the lawmakers should be “ashamed of  themselves for going on break while the Chibok girls are with wicked men in the bush.”

A police patrol team which had been following the group from the Unity Fountain, quickly radioed for support and about three other vehicles quickly drove to the shut NASS gate.

A dark man in white native, apparently a senior security officer, was observed speaking to his boss on his hand held radio, and  reporting the situation. He was overheard saying “the protest is being led by a former education minister.”

After spending a few minutes, the BBOG members left and as they walked towards the Presidential Villa junction, policemen in four vehicles quickly drove to the junction and blocked it, to prevent the protesters from heading that way.

This infuriated the #BBOG members who railed against the operatives, but they were not deterred as they massed at the junction and shared out fliers to motorists.

A member, Bukky Shonibare, who just returned from delivering relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in Yola, Adamawa State, noted that 98 per cent of the IDPs are not living in camps but with private families.

She explained that the displaced persons were suffering, adding that most of them lacked food, shelter and clothing and other basic needs.

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Police ambush BBOG campaigners in Abuja