Human Rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo (SAN) on Tuesday said the arrest of members of BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) and its leader, Oby Ezekwesili by the Nigerian Police was “unjustified” and a “violent violation of human rights.”
In a statement signed by the senior lawyer, Keyamo described the arrest as “insensitive and insensate” and urged the police to apologise to the advocacy group.
Keyamo also reiterated his earlier call that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris should immediately resign from his position.
The statement reads, “I just read with shock, bewilderment and disillusionment the arrest by the Nigerian Police of members of Bring Back Our Girls movement who gathered for a peaceful protest at the Unity Fountain in Abuja on Tuesday.
“This arrest is one too many, especially coming on the heels of the recent illegal arrest and detention of some online journalists by the same Police, acting at the behest of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
“I therefore call on the Nigerian Police to immediately apologise to the members of the group for this unwarranted, unjustified and provocative trespass on their persons and deprivation of their freedoms.
“I also reiterate my call for the removal of the Inspector-General of Police from office for these unpardonable and inexplicable infractions of the fundamental rights of citizens of our country.”