Ex-Minister Oby Ezekwesili, other BBOG activists arrested in Abuja, as SERAP queries Buhari over arrest

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has queried President Muhammadu Buhari over the arrest of BBOG convener, Oby Ezekwesili.

The former Minister of Education was detained by President Buhari.

Reacting, SERAP via its official Twitter handle described Ezekwesili’s arrest as a mockery of democracy and rule of law.

The group in a series of tweet called on the United Nations human rights to come to their rescue against illegal detention of activists.

The tweet reads, “The reported false imprisonment & detention of @obyezeks & members of @BBOG_Nigeria makes a mockery of @MBuhari’s claim that this government is one of change that is governed by the rule of law.

“The authorities should immediately release them & allow them to freely exercise their rights.

“The Nigerian authorities’ targeting of activists shows how far they’re willing to go to silence those who dare to speak truth to power. @UNHumanRights should press the government to release the activists, allow them to do their work freely & to stop illegal detention.”

Meanwhile, Police Officers on Monday accosted and arrested some members of the BringBackOurGirls campaign group during a protest at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday.

Members of the group were protesting against what they call high-level of insecurity in the country and they insisted that they have the right to stage a peaceful protest without hindrance.
While the protesters were barricaded by policemen, the Convener of the group, Oby Ezekwesili granted an interview with Channels Television, where she said the Nigerian Police by accosting the protesters infringed on their fundamental rights to free movement.
She said the police officers obstructed them from proceeding to the Unity Fountain and formed a barricade around the protesters.
The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) is a pressure group that championed the campaign on the return of the more than 270 Chibok Schoolgirls abducted from their hostel in 2014 in Borno state.