'How I was imprisoned in broad daylight' -- Ezekwesili speaks on arrest

‘How I was imprisoned in broad daylight’ — Ezekwesili speaks on arrest

January 23

15:24 2018

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Oby Ezekwesili, co-founder of the Bring Back of Our Girls (BBOG) movement, has spoken on how she and members of the group were arrested by the police in Abuja.

Ezekwesili said though the police refused to state the reason for the arrest, she was detained alongside some BBOG members.

She had announced the development in a series of tweets.

“I have been arrested along with the rest of our BBOG members and now detained without a charge by the .@PoliceNG. WE are detained at the FCT command. The police here have refused to tell us why we are detained,” she wrote.

“What are we demanding? BringBackOurGirlsNOW!!!!!!!”

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!!!!!!!
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— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018

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”
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— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) January 23, 2018

In an interview with journalists, Ezekwesili narrated what led to the arrest and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the release of all the members of the group.

“Today we gathered to do our usual march, and the Nigerian police refused for us to leave the Unity Fountain (in Abuja),” she said.

“Some of our colleagues have already gone and they are going to be giving their press statement there.

“Those of us that they have locked in here, in particular, they have refused that I should move.

“They have built a human prison and have violated my fundamental right to freedom of movement and association and therefore I want it to be on record that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has infringed the constitution by violating my fundamental right to freedom of movement and association and this cannot be allowed to happen in a democracy.

“If there is anyone there listening to this, they must tell President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the IG of Nigerian police to let the officers who have imprisoned me in broad daylight, to let me go about my business.

“I am a law-abiding citizen of this country. I see no reason why my right should be violated. And so right now I will continue to insist that these officers allow me to move out of the Unity Fountain.”