#BringBackOurGirls Protests Must Come Back – Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has come out to say that the Federal Government’s persecution and troop deployment to disband the BringBackOurGirls Advocacy Movement during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure are factors contributing to the continued captivity of about 100 Chibok girls.

He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the rallies have to be revived as soon as possible because that will remind the entire world that these girls are still missing and see what can be done to pressurize the government to devise means of locating them.

He added that the military once said that they knew where these girls were and they didn’t want any danger to happen to them, but that turned out to be a lie.

His words, “Instead of filing an appeal, the government sent troops to disband the protesters around the Unity Fountain and made it impossible for the movement to continue to operate. Now that we are marking the 10th anniversary, I think the challenge before the movement and other stakeholders and the human rights community is to see how we can revive the rallies; remind the entire world that these girls are still missing and see what can be done to pressurize the government to devise means of locating them.

Recall that when this unfortunate incident occurred 10 years ago, the military claimed that they knew where these girls were and they didn’t want any danger to happen to them. For that reason, they were going to find a way of getting each of them released. Unfortunately, that was not to be. Even when some foreign governments offered to assist, the government arrogantly maintained that it could ensure that these girls were brought home safely.

To divert attention at this stage, the Jonathan administration set up a panel of enquiry to help the government or to offer suggestions on how the girls could be located. Remember, I was a member of that panel and I declined to serve because it is not the business of civilians, to make suggestions on how to ensure the release of innocent unarmed girls that were kidnapped in their school.

So, legally speaking, the government must ensure the safety and the security, not just of citizens, but of everybody living in the country. So, we must continue to put pressure on the government to look for these girls under the law. Somebody is presumed dead after seven years if he cannot be located. But we are all still convinced that these girls are alive and that the government did not do enough to secure the release of these girls.

Again, one of the most horrendous actions ever taken by the Nigerian government was the attack on the #BringBackOurGirls movement in Abuja. The government at this stage felt disturbed that it was being reminded of its responsibility.

One Mbu, a commissioner of police in Abuja banned or imposed a ban on any form of gathering in the Federal Capital Territory. At the instance of the movement, we had to go to court and the court declared the ban illegal and asked the movement to continue its activities under the law. The government was disturbed and wasn’t satisfied with the judgment.

Instead of filing an appeal, the government sent troops to disband the protesters around the Unity Fountain and made it impossible for the movement to continue to operate. Now that we are marking the 10th anniversary, I think the challenge before the movement and other stakeholders and the human rights community is to see how we can revive the rallies; remind the entire world that these girls are still missing and see what can be done to pressurize the government to devise means of locating them.

Initially, we were told that once the government take over the Sambisa Forest, we are going to be able to secure the release of these girls. So we must go back to that harassment of the government by gathering on a weekly or monthly basis and letting the world know that these girls are still missing.

We cannot have a modern government in this age and time, with the enormous resources of Nigeria, not being able to acquire the necessary security gadgets, including drones, to ensure that criminal elements that have made it possible to kidnap school children, take them to bushes, where some die and then collect money before they are released. This is unacceptable in a modern society.”