The Commissioner of Police in Abuja, Joseph Mbu, on Monday said protests demanding the rescue of over 250 girls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, pose a serious security threat. Mr. Mbu, known to violently crack down on protesters including students and lecturers of higher institutions, announced the ban at a news conference in Abuja.
“Protests on the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate effect,” Mr. Mbu said. He said information at his disposal indicates that “dangerous elements” are about to hijack the protest, citing the emergence of rival group, “Release Our Girls”, that attacked the members of the Abuja #BringBackOurGirls campaign, breaking bottles on their heads, and destroying cameras of journalists.
Mr. Mbu, whose officials watched while this happened, also did not condemn the actions of the Release Our Girls campaigners.
“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. “As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness.” Mr. 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.
