Nigerian Police Arrest And Detain Former Minister, Oby Ezekwesili

A former minister and convener of the BringBackOurGirls group, Oby Ezekwesili, was earlier today arrested and she’s being detained by the police in Abuja.

It is understood that her arrest is not unconnected to the activities of the group.

In a flurry of tweets on her Twitter handle, @obyezeks, the former Minister of Education, said she was arrested alongside some members of the BBOG group.

According to her, Aisha Yesufu, Ms Maureen Kabrik, Jeff Okoroafor and four others were also arrested.

Reacting to the reported arrest, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in a statement via its Twitter page, demanded the immediate release of those arrested.

In an interview with newsmen, Ezekwesili narrated what led to the arrest and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the release of all the members of the group.

“Today we gathered to do our usual march, and the Nigerian police refused for us to leave the Unity Fountain (in Abuja),” she said.

“Some of our colleagues have already gone and they are going to be giving their press statement there.

“Those of us that they have locked in here, in particular, they have refused that I should move.

“They have built a human prison and have violated my fundamental right to freedom of movement and association and therefore I want it to be on record that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has infringed the constitution by violating my fundamental right to freedom of movement and association and this cannot be allowed to happen in a democracy.

“If there is anyone there listening to this, they must tell President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the IG of Nigerian police to let the officers who have imprisoned me in broad daylight, to let me go about my business.

“I am a law-abiding citizen of this country. I see no reason why my right should be violated. And so right now I will continue to insist that these officers allow me to move out of the Unity Fountain.”