#BringBackOurGirls demands disciplinary action against Nigeria Police

#BringBackOurGirls demands disciplinary action against Nigeria Police

The #BringBackOurGirls group on Wednesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission to take disciplinary actions against the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over police disruption of the group’s rally on September 6.

Delivering its monthly monitoring report at Unity Fountain, Abuja, the #BBOG in a statement signed by its co-conveners, Aisha Yesufu and Oby Ezekwesili, said its members considered the police’ action unacceptable.

It also called for disciplinary actions against the Federal Capital Territory police commissioner, Alkali Usman, and his deputy, M. D. Garba.

Members of the group, which has over the last two years pressed government to ensure the return of over 200 girls abducted in Chibok, Borno state in April 2014, were stopped by police officers while attempting a march to the Presidential Villa on September 6.

The police also attempted to stop the #BBOG group from continuing with its rallies. The tempo of the rallies increased after the Boko Haram released a video on August 14 that indicated many of the abducted girls were alive.

The terror group demanded the release of its captured members in exchange for the girls.
Reacting to the video, the #BBOG vowed to march to the Presidential villa at 72-hour intervals until the girls are released.

But on September 6, the police stopped the march around Ministry of Justice leading to the Three Arms Zone where the #BBOG usually briefed journalists since the police began blocking its path to the Villa.

The police had also announced a ban on rallies within the Federal Capital Territory, but called off the ban after widespread criticism.

The #BBOG said the “mere retraction” of the initial ban on its rallies would be insufficient in erasing what it (#BBOG) regarded as the “injurious allegations” levelled against the members.

The group therefore announced a list of requests, including that the IGP retracts allegations made against the #BBOG as well as apologises to family members of the abducted girls for the abuse of their rights on September 6.

“That the President acting through the Police Commission calls the Inspector General (Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris) to order immediately and takes appropriate disciplinary measures against him and the two other officers ( CP Alkali Usman, and DCP M. D. Garba of the FCT Command), to deter any recurrence of unconstitutional, unprofessional, lawless , and oppressive conduct in the future,” the group said.

Mrs. Ezekwesili had earlier condemned the retraction of the ban by the police and called for an unreserved apology from Mr. Idris.