Abuja residents are waiting with bated breath to see what unfolds following the police statement warning against public protests as the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement and sympathisers march to the country’s seat of power, Aso Villa.
It is not yet known if a Buhari support group will be scrambled to hold a counter protest to neutralise the BBOG group as has been done in the past, but sources said the Police was putting in place “counter measures”.
In a statement BBOG announced that it would be marching to the office and official residence of the President to express its disappointment, and demand explanation on the 113 Chibok girls still with their Boko Haram abductors.
It said further: “For three months since May, the federal government has not given any updates on the return of our 113 missing #ChibokGirls. The parents, families, community, and the public at large have been left in the dark wondering. This is unacceptable. Our march is also intended to wake the federal government up, and prevent in from relapsing and sinking into the inertia and complacency it is always wont to.
“There has also been an increased spate of terrorists attacks in the northeast, as well as the recent abduction of women on Borno-Adamawa road which the federal government is living in denial about and handling poorly. Clearly no lessons have been learned over the years.
“Tomorrow (Tuesday) we meet at Unity Fountain Abuja from 9 am to proceed on our march.
“We enjoin all who share a concern for our #ChibokGirls and these associated issues to join us.”
Shortly after the BBOG statement, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command rolled out its own warning against unlawful protest by any group to disrupt the relative peace in the city.
It cautioned against blocking of roads and denying people easy access to such roads.
According to FCT Police spokesman, Anjuri Mamzah, the FCT Police Command was in possession of information that some persons had plans to stage an unlawful protest with intent to block major roads in the Federal Capital Territory.
He urged those who had complaints to go through appropriate channels to vent them.