TheCable

The daily #bringbackourgirls sit-in at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, recorded a low turnout today.

There were about 75 participants at today’s sit-in — very low figure compared with the number of participants at previous sit-ins and rallies.

Journalists, who might have as well outnumbered the participants, were not taken into account.

Having dragged on for 20 days, it is likely that participants are growing weary and jaded.

In her moderation of the session, one of the conveners of the sit-in, Obiageli Ezekwesili, criticised the Nigerian media for “reticent” coverage of the #bringbackourgirls campaign group, saying they only began to report its activities on the coattails of international news agencies.

However, a Voice of Nigeria journalist was quick to address the accusation of under-reporting of the campaign, saying the media has done its bit in informing Nigerians of the activities of the group, but that Nigerians preferred to “consume” news from international news agencies.

Monday’s scant attendance notwithstanding, more people are expected to join the protest on Thursday, when organisers of the #bringbackourgirls campaign take their cause  to the Presidential Villa.