The BringBackOurGirls members on Tuesday stormed the presidential villa to protest the delay in the release of the abducted Chibok girls.
The protesters, who sealed their mouths with tapes, were again stopped by the police from accessing Aso Villa for the third time.
The coalition members, led by former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, sat on the access road to the seat of power while maintaining absolute silence.
Below are photos taken at the scene:
Below are some of the reactions on Twitter on the decision of the protesters to seat on the access road leading to the Presidential Villa:
@MobilePunch Are they seeking to be noticed or what? Can they see tha @PMB can’t do it? D taste of bitter kola is not same with the price
— Chidi Wyte (@ohany1) August 30, 2016
@thecableng @obyezeks @BukkyShonibare @BBOG_Nigeria @ibrahimu14 why sealing the mouth?
— AbuuHaleemah (@DrAbuuHaleem) August 30, 2016
@thecableng yeye ppl u think this is GEJ?
— Mackson. (@OnlyMackson) August 30, 2016
@SaharaReporters @MBuhari @obyezeks @NGRWailers Chibok girls were used to scam this nation. Karma is Great
— AGUDA JUDE MAKHENA (@JudeMakhena) August 30, 2016
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday defended the decision to stop the protesters from getting to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Labbo, the IGP spoke at the 2016 International Day of the Disappeared/Missing Persons, held at the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja.
Responding to a question during the event, Labbo said the BBOG protesters were stopped to prevent rowdiness around Aso Rock.
He explained that the police were not interested in preventing the group from meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari but that the protest train had to be stopped to avoid rowdiness around the seat of power.
Labbo, however, said that the group would only be allowed to meet with the President through their leaders.
“We sympathise with you. We did not stop you from meeting with the President. Anytime you want to see the President you can meet with the President but you have to nominate your leaders to meet with the President on your behalf,” he said on Tuesday.
“We believe that all unions have leaders. We are at the Villa to protect the Villa and we will not allow any rowdiness around the Villa.
“Please send some delegates, two or three of them to meet with the President.
“Whenever you want to see the President, go through your leaders. They will talk and the President will listen to you because this government is always ready to listen to you.”
