Security was on Tuesday morning beefed up at the two main gates of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ahead of a planned protest of the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners.
The campaigners led by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, had planned to march to the villa in order to have an audience with President Goodluck Jonathan.
The audience was meant to avail them the opportunity to hear firsthand from the President, efforts being made to secure the release of the over 200 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect about 183 days ago.
They planned to take off from their convergence point, the Unity Fountain, from where they will proceed through the Federal Secretariat to the villa.
A young campaigner for the release of abducted Nigerian schoolgirls takes part in a candlelit vigil on October 12, 2014 in Abuja to mark the six-month anniversay of the kidnap by Boko Haram Islamists. Photo: AFP
Our correspondent however observed security beef up around the two main gates leading to the villa as early as 7am on Tuesday, an indication that the campaigners would not be allowed access.
The two gates under security watch are the Fire Service Gate leading to Asokoro and the Supreme Court Gate leading to the Federal Secretariat.
A combined team of policemen and soldiers attached to the Brigade of Guards were deployed in the affected areas.
Security vehicles were also strategically parked in a manner that would deter protesters from going beyond the barriers.
Those entering the villa were thoroughly scrutinised by operatives of the Department of State Security in order to ascertain their identities.
It will be recalled that an earlier attempt by the campaigners to meet the President did not yield positive result.
At that time, some ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, met with the protesters in front of the Federal Secretariat on behalf of the President.
During that encounter, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, had read a speech on behalf of Jonathan in which she enumerated the various steps being taken by government to rescue in abducted girls.
The response however did not go down well with the campaigners who promised to give the President another opportunity to meet with them.
Credit:Punch
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