The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday said former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and some other members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group were taken into custody because they became violent during a protest in Abuja.
The group had gathered at the Unity Fountain to resume their daily demonstration calling for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram jihadists in April 2014.
It also wants the return of thousands of other women, men and children who have been seized by the insurgents that have killed at least 20,000 people since 2009.
About 12 people were taken into custody around 10 am and were held at an Abuja police station for approximately four hours, said Ezekwesili.
She tweeted their detention on Twitter, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of violating her right to freedom of movement.
“At the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) police command I asked why our members were being arrested and no one could say a thing,” Ezekwesili said.
Aisha Yesufu, another coordinator of the group said: “The Nigeria police force decided to arrest us, arrest innocent citizens that came out to demand the rescue of girls who have been abducted for almost four years.
The police in a statement released Tuesday evening, however, said that they brought the members of the #BringBackOurGirls group to the station because they “reacted violently” during the demonstration.
“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,” said police spokesman Anjuguri Manzah.
Ezekwesili has vowed that the group will continue its demonstration on Wednesday.
