Lagosians Take To The Streets To Bring Back our Girls

Civil society coalition calls for the rescue of abducted girls

Women for Peace and Justice, a coalition of civil society groups, human rights activists and other good spirited Nigerians continue to lead the voices in the global call for the return of the 234 secondary schools abducted in various parts of the Northeast of Nigeria by suspected militant group, Boko Haram in recent times. Prior to the Lagos rally the coalition has successfully organized demonstrations in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Ibadan. The situation in Nigeria has gained significant international attention and support and sympathy rallies have been organised across the world including in the UK and USA.

In the one million-man march, organized by the coalition in Lagos, the group called on the President, Goodluck Jonathan, members of the National Assembly and the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, rescue the abducted 234 girls and step up the security machinery in the country to forestall further breaches and save Nigerians from danger.

Causing delays and disruption in the Monday morning circulation, the demands of the demonstrators were clear. “We are making it a little uncomfortable for people trying to get to work, but it is important for all of us to stop, pause and think about the pain and suffering of the girls and the anguish of their families who have suffered untold emotional trauma since the incident occurred” says the coordinator of the Lagos rally Mrs Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, Executive Director of Murtala Muhammed Foundation. She continues; “The longer it takes to rescue our girls, the greater the dangers they are exposed to. The lack of action is unacceptable, the growing insecurity worrisome and we as Nigerians demand an immediate and complete end to the politicization of insecurity in this country “.

Another member of the rally Ms Yemisi Ransome Kuti of the Cosmopolitan Women’s club noted that everyone here is a concerned citizen that does not believe those concerned have put in adequate effort towards rescuing these children. “Today, we and millions of Nigerian women, men and children call on the Federal Government, members of the National Assembly and the security agencies to bring back our girls and all the women living in captivity alive”.

The group questioned why security has not increased around vulnerable targets even after threats by the militant group; how terrorists in many trucks could pass freely in an area that is under emergency rule; and why insecurity is on the increase despite massive increase in military spending by the government in the country.

The group is also appalled that, since the incident, no group has stepped up to claim responsibility for the kidnappings. With so much confusion about the exact number of the missing girls, the group called upon the security agencies to “secure the lives of our most vulnerable and most precious resource: our children.”

The march commenced at the Allen Roundabout Ikeja and went onto Awolowo Way to the Governor’s Office, Alausa, where the coalition handed over their petition to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State for onward relay to President Goodluck Jonathan. Secondary school children, market women and many well-meaning Nigerians accompanied the coalition.

The petition itself calls on the President Goodluck Jonathan, members of the National Assembly and the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, rescue the abducted 234 girls and step up the security machinery in the country to forestall further breaches and save Nigerians from danger.

“This is not a one-off event. We will continue till the girls are free and our security situation dealt with” declared the coalition “we urge every compassionate resident in Nigeria to show solidarity with our cause by wearing a red item every day until the mission is completed”.