Oby Ezekwesili, leader of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, has described the prevention of the group from accessing the presidential villa as a reminder of the‎ military era.

Addressing journalists shortly after the police stopped the protesters, Ezekwesili said the presidency had been notified of its procession to the villa gate, where the citizen movement was to deliver a message to the government.

She expressed surprise that the group was stopped, saying BBOG would deliver its message‎ on the road notwithstanding the barricade.

The campaigners are at present holding a commemorative session on the busy secretariat road, causing traffic congestion.

The protesters had set out from the Unity Fountain in Abuja around 10:30am, but met a wall of police officers on the road leading to the villa.