TheCable

One of the protesters of the #ReleaseOurGirlsNow group has confessed that each protester receives N4,000 daily for participating in protests believed to be intended to neutralise the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

While the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners have been protesting at the Unity Fountain since April 30, 2014, to pressure the government into intensifying efforts to rescue the kidnapped Chibok girls, the #ReleaseOurGirlsNow campaigners “support the government” and will “not criticise” it, and have always expressed their belief that any protest for the release of the girls should be directed at Boko Haram and not the federal government.

The #ReleaseOurGirlsNow group holds its activities under the Nigerians United Against Terrorism and the Arewa Political Women frontier led by Ramatu Mohammed.

And a protester has revealed to TheCable that she was only participating in the campaign because of what she gets.

“I have received N8,000 for participating in the campaign in the past two days,” said Jumai, who spoke under a pseudonym for fear of victimisation.

“But getting the money is a very difficult process, because there are so many of us jostling to receive payment for our hard work.”

The Unity Fountain was a scene of fierce aggression on Wednesday evening, as miscreants allegedly in the band of the #ReleaseOurGirlsNow group assaulted protesters of the #BringBackOurGirls group led by Obiageli Ezekwesili while holding their sit-in.

A political campaign van on “standby” (click to expand)

Earlier, women from the ROGN group repeatedly sashayed around the spot where the BBOG group was having its sit-in, brandishing leaves and chanting, “Boko Haram, release our girls” in a manner to counter the other group.

They disrupted the meeting intermittently with shouts and chants, while some of them turned the venue into a market for selling tomatoes, oranges, yam and other food items.

Amid the commotion, a campaign bus bearing the photos of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo circled the venue.