Abuja police finally ban #BringBackOurGirls

The police on Monday banned protests over the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT commissioner of police, Mr Joseph Mbu (pictured), announced the ban at a news conference in Abuja, saying the protests were posing a “serious security threat”.

“Accordingly, protests on the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate effect,” Mbu said.

He said after a group under the aegis of “Bring Back Our Girls” protested on April 28, another group, “Release Our Girls”, emerged.

Mbu said information at the disposal of the command indicated that “dangerous elements” were about to hijack the protest, hence the ban.

“As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness.

“Information reaching us is that too soon, dangerous elements will join groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosives aimed at embarrassing the government,” he said.

Mbu said a situation where the Fountain of Unity, venue of gathering for the protest, was being turned into a place for “cooking and selling” was embarrassing.

According to him, many diplomats live in that area of the territory.

He called on the people of the territory to encourage the security agencies in the war against terrorism and criminality by appreciating the sacrifices they had made.

Asked whether the ban would not violate the freedom of expression and assembly, the commissioner said that one person’s freedom should not affect another person’s freedom.

“People have been protesting over a month now… it is the issue of terrorism, it is not solved in one day.

“Then, when you continue to do it persistently, it becomes  nuisance to the government,” he said.

Government has been complaining about the #BringBackOurGirls protests, declaring them as the being hijacked by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition party.

A few days after the government said the protests should be directed at Boko Haram to release the girls, a new group emerged under the banner of #ReleaseOurGirls.

The BBOG protesters were attacked last week as police officers stood back and watched.

Information minister Labaran Maku attacked the BBOG group, saying 90% of them were APC members.