By Molly Kilete, Abuja
MEMBERS of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group were yesterday barred by the police from entering the Presidential villa.
Former minister of education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili described the police action as a reminder of the military era.
The group said they had wanted to present a letter to president Muhammadu Buhari, or his vice, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, on what the administration was doing to bring back the kidnapped girls alive.
Members of BBOG as well as some parents of the kidnapped girls had converged at the unity square as early as 10.30am before marching to the three arms zone, where they also planned to address a world press conference.
However, on getting to the road leading to the villa, they were stopped by a police team led by Grace Alonge, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Asokoro divisional police. She said the police was taking preventive measures considering the security situation in the county even as she said the police was not against the peaceful protest.
She said the group was allowed to carry out their protest in any part of the Federal Capital Territory, except the presidential villa, saying it was not prepared to take such a risk.
But addressing journalists, Ezekwesili expressed surprise that the group was stopped, saying BBOG would deliver its message on the road notwithstanding the barricade.