Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and other members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement were on Tuesday arrested during a protest at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.
The protesters were demanding the release of abducted Chibok girls still in the custody of Boko Haram militants.
Recounting her ordeal in a series of tweets, Ezekwesili said she was arrested along with Aisha Yesufu, Maureen Kabrik, Jeff Okoroafor and other members of the BBOG group.
P @MBuhari :
I have been ARRESTED along with rest of our BBOG members and NOW DETAINED without a charge by the .@PoliceNG . WE are detained at the FCT command . The Police here has REFUSED to tell us why we are DETAINED.What Are WE Demanding?
BringBackOurGirlsNOW!!!!!!!— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
The FG of President .@MBuhari instructed the IG of @PoliceNG to DETAIN ME AND OTHER MEMBERS of @BBOG_Nigeria here at the Unity Fountain. Police men and women have BUILT AN IMPREGNABLE WALL and LOCKED ME IN. I have asked them more than 30 times to LET ME OUT and they REFUSED.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
President @MBuhari The police officers deployed by IG of .@PoliceNG is VIOLATING my FREEDOM of MOVEMENT by LOCKING ME IN in broad day light at the Unity Fountain. THIS IS A DEMOCRACY. Officer Tina Ishaya just again REFUSED TO LET ME OUT OF THEIR WALL.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
President @MBuhari at your instruction, the IG of @PoliceNG CONTINUES TO DETAIN ME and HAVE ARRESTED SOME OF OUR MEMBERS.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
President .@MBuhari members of our BBOG Movement @BBOG_Nigeria HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY OUR IG of .@PoliceNG . WE ARE ALL WAITING TO BE ARRESTED SINCE it has become an OFFENSE to DEMAND THAT YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO RESCUE ALL OUR CHIBOKGIRLS.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
According to her, they were eventually released without the police telling them the reason for their arrest.
Without stating the reason for our ARREST & DETENTION, Commissioner of Police at the FCT Command of .@PoliceNG CP Bello has asked us to be LET OUT of their Station.
WE INSISTED ON A FORMAL CHARGE &RELEASE but his response?
“I am the Commissioner& NOW RELEASE you to go”— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
Ezekwesili has promised that the BBOG group will reconvene at the Unity Fountain on Wednesday to continue the protest.
Thanks friends. We have left the FCT Police Command.
Tomorrow morning, WE SHALL continue with our .@BBOG_Nigeria #BBOGMarchToTheVilla that was FLAGRANTLY and LAWLESSLY INTERRUPTED by the @PoliceNG today.
WE REFUSE THAT ANYONE SHOULD INFRINGE ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018
