The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has released former Minister of Education and co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and other members of the group who were arrested and detained on Tuesday.
Speaking shortly after her release, Ezekwesili said the FCT Police refused to tell her and the other seven members of the group including Aisha Yesufu, a known critic of President Muhammadu Buhari the reason they were arrested en route the Unity Fountain in Abuja.
In a series of tweets she made after her release, the former minister said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Abubakar Bello who ordered their release did not state why they were detained.
“Without stating the reason for our arrest and detention, Commissioner of Police at the FCT Command, CP Bello has asked us to be let out of their station,” she tweeted.
“We insisted on a formal charge and release but his response? I am the commissioner and now release you to go,” the tweet added.
Her arrest is however believed to be connected to the activities of the group which has been carrying out sit-outs in the nation’s capital city since more than 200 girls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok in April, 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents.
However in its reaction, the Nigeria Police has through a statement, denied arresting Ezekwesili and other BBOG members, saying they were only brought to the Command to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
“The FCT Police wishes to clear the air and set the records straight that it did not arrest or detain Prof. Oby Ezekwesili and some members of the Bring Back Our Girls group as being speculated on some social media platforms.
“It is pertinent to state that they were only brought to the Command to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order as some members of the group reacted violently and broke down security barriers set up by the police to restrict their protest to the Unity Fountain,” the statement read in part.
It added that the BBOG members were allowed to go after they were addressed by the FCT Police Commissioner CP Sadiq Bello who reiterated the commitment of the Command towards the protection of lives and property.
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