The High Court in Abuja has declared that the
police do not have the power to prevent protests
against the government’s handling of the
abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from the
Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok,
Borno State six and a half months ago.
Justice Ebenezer Aladetoyinbo ruled that the Act
which the police claimed gave them the authority
to stop the protests, does not authorise them to
disrupt rallies or processions regarding the
abducted Chibok girls.
The movement began as an attempt to put
pressure on the government to rescue the girls.
However, the sit out by members of the
#BringBackOurGirls campaign soon attracted
attention which led to a former Commissioner of
Police, Joseph Mbu, banning the protests on June
2, 2014. The #BringBackOurGirls activists
responded to the ban with a court action which
led to the judgement.
The police have said that they will study the
judgement.
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