NIGERIA: Hundreds protest in Nigeria to call on security forces to do more in securing the release of around 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamists

Record ID: 236673

  • Title: NIGERIA: Hundreds protest in Nigeria to call on security forces to do more in securing the release of around 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamists
  • Date: 5th May 2014
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (MAY 05, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING AND HOLDING BANNERS BANNER READING: "NO RESCUE, NO VOTE, BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" BANNER READING: "STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST THE GIRL CHILD NOW" PROTESTER WALKING AND SHOUTING: "ABDUCTION MUST STOP, NIGERIAN WOMEN ARE SAD, NIGERIAN WOMEN ARE NOT HAPPY" POSTER READING: "YOU CANNOT MARRY OUR YOUNG GIRLS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SERENDIPITY HOUSE AND GOD'S WIVES INTERNATIONAL, AYO YEMISI, SAYING: "What we are here to do is to let the government know that they should declare the identity of the kidnapers and release our daughters. This is not too much an assignment for Nigeria to do and that is why we are here." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER AND CHANTING BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT NIGERIA, CHARLOTTE OBIDAIRO, SAYING: "Well this is the beginning, I guess Nigerians don't have the.. is not used to protesting so this is the beginning, we will be coming back again every Monday here, we will be wearing red everyday to make sure that everybody remembers the sufferings that these girls are undergoing, and it will.., until the girls are back, we will continue. I think this is the first step and we will mobilise more and more people." BANNER READING: "RESCUE OUR GIRLS!!! RESCUE NIGERIA! (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNKNOWN PROTESTER, SAYING: "We want security to be doubled up in our schools. We want these girls to be rescued with immediate effect. We want them back alive because they are our tomorrow." PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS AND MARCHING ON
  • Embargoed: 20th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVAX2PU8V0FACO9A1T6YHYGUZ5C
  • Story Text: Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Nigeria's commercial capital on Monday (May 5), calling on Nigeria's government to intensify its search for around 200 school girls whom Islamist militants abducted in the war-ravaged northeast three weeks ago.
    The crowd began their march at a popular bus stop in Lagos and later gathered outside the state government house, waving banners and chanting "bring back our girls!"
    Ayo Yemisi, chief executive officer of Serendipity House and God's Wives International said all they want is for Nigeria's government to act quickly and return the abducted girls to their families.

    "What we are here to do is to let the government know that they should declare the identity of the kidnapers and release our daughters. This is not too much an assignment for Nigeria to do and that is why we are here," she said.
    Islamists stormed an all-girl secondary school in the village of Chibok, in Borno state, on April 14, then packed the teenagers, who had been taking exams, onto trucks and disappeared into a remote area along the border with Cameroon.
    Charlotte Obidairo, representative for Youth Empowerment and Development Nigeria said they will not relent but will keep protesting until the girls are rescued.

    "Well this is the beginning" she said, "We will be coming back again every Monday here, we will be wearing red everyday to make sure that everybody remembers the sufferings that these girls are undergoing."

    "I think this is the first step and we will mobilise more and more people," she added.
    The girls' abductions have been hugely embarrassing for the government ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) for Africa which Nigeria is hosting this week.
    The meeting was supposed to focus attention on the growth potential of Africa's biggest economy but threatens to be overshadowed by the girls and by Nigeria's mounting security woes.

    "We want security to be doubled up in our schools. We want these girls to be rescued with immediate effect. We want them back alive because they are our tomorrow," a protester shouted through a loud hailer outside the state government house.
    In a televised "media chat" late on Sunday (May 4), Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan pledged that the girls would soon be found and released, but he also admitted he had no idea where they were.
    The Islamist militant group Boko Haram claimed responsibility on Monday for the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls during a raid in the village of Chibok in northeast Nigeria last month, the French news agency AFP reported, citing a video it had obtained.
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