Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris told the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) campaigners yesterday that their persistent protests which has set them on collision course with the police is enough.
The campaigners have been attempting to take the protest inside the Presidential Villa but the police have prevented them.
They have been protesting every 72 hours but were confronted by another group on Tuesday, which claimed that the campaigners for the release of the abducted school girls had turned it into an anti-government group
The IG said the protest in recent time posed a threat to public peace and order.
He explained that a procession is usually to draw attention to a particular issue adding that their objective had been achieved.
Idris spoke in Abuja while receiving the National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Mrs Gloria Shoda and other executive members of the association.
He said: “The police management is aware of the agitation and the plight of parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and other civil groups. As parents ourselves, we sympathize with them in these trying moments.
“Evidently, the government has invested huge resources in ensuring that the girls are rescued and re-united with their various families.
“However, the activities of the BringBackOurGirls group in Abuja, the nation’s capital recently, is becoming worrisome and a threat to public peace and order.
“#BringBackOurGirls protagonists must understand that in the exercise of their rights, they must not trample on other peoples’ rights through “over-dramatization of emotions, self-serving propaganda and disrespect of public (office) holders.
“The police will not sit on the fence and watch such a scenario unfold. The rights of law-abiding citizens must be protected within the context of the law and we believe that enough is enough.
“I watched them on Television saying they were enforcing their rights. Every citizen of this country has rights and we believe that where your right ends, the rights of others begin and we should try to conduct ourselves in such a way that everybody in the process of enforcing right, do not encroach on the rights of others.
“I believe that blocking the highway or stopping traffic and over dramatization of emotion, trying to confront and provoke policemen, I don’t think that is part of enforcement of rights because even the policemen have rights and they are doing it lawfully.
“The essence of procession is to bring the attention of the society or the government to your plight and I think the demonstration has been going on for too long. We believe and advice that it is time for them to maintain some level of control so that people of Abuja can live in peace and tranquillity.
“We however ask that they tread with caution and that their grievances be channeled within the ambit of the law.”
He said they should be mindful of the movement of other persons as enshrined in Chapter 4 Section 41 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“Pressure groups should not resort to arm-twisting of government in order to achieve their aim,” he added
The NCWS President commended the police for maintaining the peace in the Federal Capital Territory in spite of the BBOG protests..
She said: We recognise that one of the vocal groups, the BringBackOurGirls, has in recent times had near clashes with you (police). We use this occasion to appeal for calm and patience so that these kinds of situations do not get out of hand”.
