News
Young Nigerian Activists, Japheth Omojuwa & Uche Briggs Allegedly Arrested During Peaceful Protests in Abuja
Information reaching us from social media is that two young Nigerian activists have been arrested during peaceful protests in Abuja. The activists were protesting against the fact that the there has been no justice sought for the lives lost during the National Immigration Service recruitment exercise. Japheth Omojuwa and Uche Briggs are allegedly being held by the NSCDC officials in Abuja. Another activist, known on Twitter as @xeenarh, Azeenah Mohammed was reportedly arrested too after she went to look for Omojuwa.
If this is true, there is surely cause for concern as one wonders what lies ahead for the rest of the polity.
There was a call for young people in Abuja to join the protest earlier in the day.
Abuja guys, be well dressed and appear smart for a JUSTICE against #NISMurder protest with @omojuwa Area 1, 2:30pm @Abuja_Facts
— Timehin (@pauiza) April 2, 2014
Please,residents of Abuja, join the #NISMurder protest at 14:30pm. Unity we stand,divided we fall. See @omojuwa ‘s TL for details
— David Adeniyi (@myunicy) April 2, 2014
It could have been you! Join @omojuwa in protesting against a govt that gives no damn about your future. Moro must go! #NISMurder
— Honest|GenVoices (@Honest4change) April 2, 2014
News of the arrests broke this evening on Twitter.
@omojuwa and @UcheBriggs went out to represent the rest of every troubled Nigerian seeking the truth and justice over the #NISExam — Generational Voices (@GenVoices) April 2, 2014
Abuja guys, be well dressed and appear smart for a JUSTICE against #NISMurder protest with @omojuwa Area 1, 2:30pm @Abuja_Facts — Timehin (@pauiza) April 2, 2014
It could have been you! Join @omojuwa in protesting against a govt that gives no damn about your future. Moro must go! #NISMurder — Honest|GenVoices (@Honest4change) April 2, 2014
Update; @omojuwa and @UcheBriggs are now in Gudu. NSCDC FCT command #ReleaseOmojuwaAndBriggsNow #NISMurder via @rosanwo and @xeenarh — Hello April (@BabajideFadoju) April 2, 2014
For leading the #NISMurder protest, @omojuwa was arrested despite the fact that he didn’t respond to being pushed & shoved by policemen. — EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) April 2, 2014
“@AishaJana: @tosinadex We were at Area 1 just now.”we are at Nscdc office in gudu #NISmurder @omojuwa is arreseted wit briggs — Tosin (@tosinadex) April 2, 2014
Just confirmed about 30 minutes ago that Japhet @omojuwa is being held at the Area 1 Police Station. I am on a… http://t.co/xY1FQzgcAW — Nasir El-Rufai (@elrufai) April 2, 2014
Report says she is now with @omojuwa RT @AishaJana: Let’s not forget @xeenarh was also taken — YANJU 4LARIN (@Yanjizee) April 2, 2014
In all this, I’m proud of @UcheBriggs who, rather than spend his birthday drinking, went to seek justice for the murdered through d protest. — Nedu (@Nedunaija) April 2, 2014
Update: 5 people arrested at #NISexam protests are @omojuwa @UcheBriggs @xeenarh, Jackson & a foreign journo via @AishaJana #Nigeria — babatunde rosanwo (@rosanwo) April 2, 2014
We are worried for Xeenarh too
Update: 5 people arrested at #NISexam protests are @omojuwa @UcheBriggs @xeenarh, Jackson & a foreign journo via @AishaJana #Nigeria — babatunde rosanwo (@rosanwo) April 2, 2014
Xeenarh was very active and vocal during the Occupy Nigeria protests and we admire her courage and strength. We believe in the power of the collective voices of the people. At a time where there’s so much uncertainty going on, when we’re calling for more people to stand up for what they believe in, this is not the best signal to send out. We’re truly saddened by the turn of events today because it is a painful reminder of a horrible, horrible time in Nigeria. We live in a democracy and if this is true then we, as the Nigerian people, need to channel all the anger we feel into striving to taking back our country. Whether in our offices, or in our housing estates, or even at the polls next year… we can’t sit idly and be taken for granted any longer. We will keep you updated.
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Update
Ok,thanks twitteville we have been released,I learnt calls from high,but then we were told calls from high ordered our arrest #NISmurder
— Anadio | Ball4Borno! (@C_Lawan) April 2, 2014
Update: Multiple sources claim @omojuwa @UcheBriggs & @xeenarh have been released. #NISexam
— babatunde rosanwo (@rosanwo) April 2, 2014
Cc: @miafarradaily RT @alkayy: Those held at the FCT Police Command have been released including @C_Lawan and @xeenarh after much pressure
— Hazel A. (@Zitera) April 2, 2014
@DoubleEph they claim I was aiding the German journo,the I am culpable for his offence since we are together
— Anadio | Ball4Borno! (@C_Lawan) April 2, 2014
