The calls for the release of the 234 female students abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State gained momentum on Monday morning as hundreds of Lagos residents trooped to the streets to protest the girls abduction.
Markets, stalls and shops were shut down in solidarity for the rally, as the people carried placards bearing messages as ‘Free our daughters’; ‘Where are our missing girls?’; ‘No rescue, No vote’; and ‘Enough is enough, the abductions must stop’.
The protest train, made up of market women, religious and interest groups, civil rights organisations and celebrities, moved from Allen Roundabout, Ikeja, to the Lagos State House of Assembly, where they addressed journalists and presented a petition to the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
The petition is to be forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The organisers of the rally, Women for Peace and Justice in Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, said the aim of the protest was to call on the President, members of the National Assembly and the security agencies to rescue the abducted girls.
The coordinator of the rally, Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, who is the Executive Director of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, said, “We are making it a little uncomfortable for people trying to get to work, but it is important for all of us to stop, pause and think about the pain and suffering of the girls and the anguish of their families who have suffered untold emotional trauma since the incident occurred. The longer it takes to rescue the girls, the greater the dangers they are exposed to.”
A member of the group, Ms Yemisi Ransome Kuti, said citizens of the country did not believe the government was doing enough to bring back the girls.
Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to mobilise all military forces to rescue the girls.
He said, “We want the government to declare all military forces in Nigeria to collaborate with international organizations and countries that have gone through this before to rescue these girls. This is what we need right now.”
Mrs. Matthew Daniel of Advocacy Forum, while speaking with our correspondent, condemned the setting up of a committee by the government to ascertain the number of girls who were actually abducted. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Yoruba people like protest. Just because people are doing it all over the world. APC my foot. GEJ carry go.
ReplyDeleteYou will surely rot in hell! I wished your sister was one of them blockhead!
ReplyDelete