WOMEN, YOUTH PROTEST OVER 234 GIRLS MISSING IN BORNO

On Wednesday, hundreds of women gathered to protest the abduction of schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State at the National Assembly.

Despite the heavy rain, the women led by a former minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, were received by the leadership of the NASS, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and other lawmakers.

The obviously traumatised women, including the  parents of the kidnapped pupils, appealed to the government and the military to ensure the safe release of the girls.

They also urged the legislators to do something urgently as they could no longer bear the trauma that the young girls were passing through.

David Mark in reply, assured them that the National Assembly shall not rest until the last of the girls are free.

“We have reached an unbearable stage.We can no longer tolerate this. We are drenched. Totally soaked in the rain. It is better to be beaten by the rain and get our children freed from their captors.”

“If it means standing in the rain until the girls are freed we are prepared to do so. We are lost for  words. We can only apologise that it is taking this long to get these girls released.”

“All the security apparatus, all of us must get involved in this battle.”

“There is no mistaking the fact that we are in a state of war. With God on our side, we shall triumph over evil”.

Oby Ezekwesili and other concerned mothers gathering before the protest.

Oby Ezekwesili addressing the crowd.

David Mark with protesters.

Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, Senate President, David Mark addressing the crowd and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

The protests did not stop there, as protests continued in other states such as Lagos, Kwara, Kano etc.

Protest in Kano State.

Protest in Kano State

Seun Kuti and the Change Movement Nigeria led the Lagos protest with the title ‘Stolen Dreams’.

Seun Kuti, Waje and friend at the protest in Lagos.

Protest in Lagos State

The awareness has gone worldwide through social media with celebrities and people from the outside world getting involved and demanding the release of the 234 girls.

Common gets involved

Keri Hilson spreads the word.

Piers Morgan spreads the word.

Australian Cosmopolitan gets involved.