On Monday, Nigerian officials banned the “Bring Back Our Girls” protests over the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls in the capital city of Abuja, claiming the demonstrations pose a security threat.
The Commissioner of Police in Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Mr Joseph Mbu, announced the ban at a news conference in Abuja, saying the protests were posing a serious security threat.
“Accordingly, protests on the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate,’’ Mbu said.
He said after a group under the aegis of “Bring Back Our Girls’’ protested on April 28, another group, “Release Our Girls,” emerged.
Mbu said information at the disposal of the command indicated that “dangerous elements’’ were about to hijack the protest, hence the ban.
“As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness.
“Information reaching us is that too soon, dangerous elements will join groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosives aimed at embarrassing the government,’’ he said.
When asked if the ban interfered with the freedom of expression and assembly, Mbu said the issue was one of terrorism, not freedom of speech.
“People have been protesting over a month now…it is the issue of terrorism, it is not solved in one day.
“Then, when you continue to do it persistently, it becomes nuisance to the government,’’ he said.
The Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the mass kidnapping of the 276 girls. The majority of them remain missing as of June. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
SOURCE: Nigeria Daily Post | VIDEO SOURCE: News Inc.
