#BringBackOurGirls: Women plan protest in Abuja over abducted schoolgirls

The continued detention of 234 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents earlier this month has solicited concern from various quarters around the country and even the world.

Just days after the US and the UK joined the search for the girls, some women have begun plans to march on the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in protest.

The protest is billed to hold on Wednesday, April 30 and all the participating women will be decked in red clothing.

The Nation reports:

Prof. Hauwa Abdu Biu hinted yesterday of the planned protest in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during an emergency meeting convened by the wife of the governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima.

The meeting was on the way forward for the release of the school girls.

Prof. Biu, speaking last week on behalf of the Coalition of Borno Women, said women were ready to storm the Sambisa forest where the girls are believed to be held, to secure their freedom.

Yesterday, she told the meeting that the march, which will be tagged “Free our girls”, will involve women all over the country. She urged the wife of the governor to mobilise women to Abuja for the rally.

“The last time we were in black, but this time around, the colour for the Abuja rally is red. So we should all be prepared and mobilised for the rally,” she added.

Hajia Shettima urged wives of the service chiefs in the state and at the federal level to mount pressure on their husbands to intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.

“I want to seek this opportunity to appeal to women of security chiefs at the national and state levels to mount pressure on your spouses to intensify effort to rescue our dear children. However, I feel it is necessary to call on all women in Borno to come up with their resolutions and harmonise them.

“Let us all put our differences aside, irrespective of our faith and ethnic group. Let us all join hands to rescue these girls. I know that we can do it. Almighty Allah is with us. He knows our intention,” she said, sobbing.

Other women urged the Federal Government and the security agencies to intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.