Abuja — Scores of Nigerian women, and a few men, defied the heavy Abuja rain Wednesday to protest and demand the release of over 200 girls kidnapped on April 14 by insurgents believed to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect. The girls were kidnapped from the their hostel at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State.
The protest began at about 3:15 p.m. at the Unity Fountain in the Abuja city centre, with many of the women wearing red to demonstrate anger and outrage at the abduction of the girls.
The women, including some mothers from the troubled Chibok community, carried banners and placards demanding that the Nigerian government do more to free the girls.
Some men, including human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, also joined the female protesters.
One of the Chibok women in obvious anguish, cried uncontrollably, demanding the whereabouts of her daughter.
A former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, one of the most known figures at the protest, announced the demands of the protesters.
“We are here to protest for the release of our girls that were abducted by Boko Haram, we are calling on the relevant authorities to act now and bring back our girls.
“We shall march from here to the National Assembly were we will deliver our letters of call to action to the Senate Present and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the former minister said.
Read full article here…
ARTICLE BY MOHAMMED LERE AND GIDADO SHUAIB, 1 MAY 2014
Photo credits: BBC News Africa (Link)