Security operatives harass Ezekwesili at airport

JULY 22, 2014 

Oby Ezekwesili

Operatives of the Department of State Security on Monday morning seized the international passport of the Coordinator of the BringBackOurGirls group and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Ezekwesili was on her way to London to attend a function when her passport was confiscated by the security operatives and she was prevented from boarding the flight.

Her passport was, however, released to her about 30 minutes later and the BBOG campaigner was allowed to board the plane.

A BBOG spokesperson, Rotimi Olawale, confirmed to our correspondent that Ezekwesili’s travelling document was seized by security operatives and later released to her.

He said, “Oby’s passport was seized by security operatives at the Nnamdi International Airport, Abuja, for about 30 minutes and she was prevented from boarding her plane. But she has now been released and she is on her way to London for her engagement.”

Ezekwesili later tweeted to her followers that she did not allow the security personnel to trample on her rights.

She tweeted, “@obyezeks: No one can seize my democratic rights. I refused to let the SSS get away with trampling on my constitutional rights.”

The former minister had been at logger-heads with the Federal Government over her campaigns for the release of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram Islamic sect on April 14, 2014.

The daily sit-outs by the BBOG members at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja, has been a sore point for the Federal Government which accused the movement of being sponsored by the opposition party.

But the Department of State Security has denied arresting Ezekwesili.

Media reports had it that the leading member of the BringBackOurGirls campaign was arrested, quizzed and released.

But the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, told State House correspondents on Monday that there was no truth on the report.

Ekpeyong said the former minister was currently in London and there was no way she could have been arrested.

“Did she tell you she was arrested? Did you see her? She is currently in London and that shows you that she was not arrested. We did not arrest her,” he declared.