Lagos journalists protest abduction of Chibok girls

“It could have been any of our children, so, we expect their immediate release.

Some journalists in Lagos on Saturday staged a peaceful protest against the abduction of students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

The protest was organised by the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions and chanted solidarity songs to demand freedom for the kidnapped girls.

Some of the inscriptions read: “Bring back our girls,” “Release Chibok girls now,” “We support foreign assistance’’

Eno Okon, Vice-Chairman NAWOJ, said that the continued detention of the girls was an “unfortunate development to womanhood.’’

“It is not something that can make anybody happy.

“It could have been any of our children, so, we expect their immediate release.

“Our security agencies should collaborate with the foreign countries who are rendering Nigeria assistance to fight terrorists to ensure speedy release of our girls,” she said.

Uche Akwuobi, Secretary of NAWOJ, said that the innocent girls should be released without any delay.

“Boko Haram should know that the girls are innocent of whatever their grievances may be; they should release them and leave women alone.

“It is only cowards that attack women and children,” she said.

Deji Elumoye, the chairman, NUJ Lagos state chapter, said that three weeks in captivity must be a real trauma for the girls.

He expressed joy with the foreign assistance being rendered to the federal government in search of the missing girls.

Also speaking, Jola Ogunlusi, former National Secretary of the NUJ, commended the organisers of the protest.

“A nation that kills its own youths is a nation struggling to die.

“I join NAWOJ to ask for the release of the girls,” he said.

(NAN)