21st July, 2014
Oby Ezekwesili, #BringBackOurGirls campaigner who was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) early Monday has been released and was allowed to make her trip to the United Kingdom. The former Minister of Education was stopped from traveling to the UK where she was billed to have an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hardtalk by the SSS.
The security agency also withheld her passport but released about 30 minutes after she was detained. “SSS has released it. Just barely made the BA flight. Last to board @ 7.55 for an 8.00 am flight that is now taxiing. Is this a DEMOCRACY?, she wrote on Twitter page.
Ezekwesili had earlier expressed her displeasure at the attitude of the security agency which she felt was trampling on her constitutional rights as a citizen of Nigeria. “No one can seize my democratic rights. I refused to let the SSS get away with trampling on my constitutional rights,” she tweeted.
In earlier tweets, she wrote about her detention. “I am being detained by the SSS @ Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport . The SSS has REFUSED to GIVE MY PASSPORT TO ME.”
“On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk appearance billed for TOMORROW and the SSS has DETAINED me by WITHHOLDING my PASSPORT.”
Ezekwesili has being at the fore front of #BringBackOurGirls protests in Abuja. The protesters are calling on the Federal Government to rescue over 200 schoolgirls that were kidnapped in Chibok on 14 April by Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
The Federal Government has come under fierce criticism from the international community for its poor handling of the matter.