Nigerian Civil Defence has abducted and beat up some of the protesters, including a renowned human rights activist, Japeth Omojuwa.
The incident happened in Abuja on April 2, 2014, Wednesday, when the activists gathered for a march against deadly Immigration recruitment, which claimed over 20 lives across Nigeria on March 15, 2014.
The reaction of such renowned politicians as Femi Fani-Kayode, Nasir El-Rufai and Atiku Abubakar was prompt and very negative.
“I call on the Federal Government and security agencies to release Japhet Omojuwa. He is one of the most forthright and courageous voices in the land and he cannot be silenced,” the ex Minister of Aviation wrote.
The former FCT Minister, who is currently out of the capital, informed he had sent lawyers to the police station. He also posted the latest update, saying that Omojuwa had been transferred to the FCT office of the SSS.
“Waziri Adio, publisher of Metropole magazine has been denied access to him. Lawyers are outside the office and have been denied access to him and not even allowed to enter the premises.
These are serial violations of the constitution. It will happen to any one of us anytime we choose to exercise our constitutional rights of association, assembly and free speech to the chagrin of murderers of 19 NIS applicants!
We must all respond to this unlawful detention with condemnation and further action unless it abates forthwith”.
The ex Vice President wrote with sadness: “So young, unarmed citizens are being arrested and assaulted for protesting peacefully? Is this the democracy our heroes fought and lost their lives for?”