A Lagos-based human rights activist and Constitutional lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirobo, was Wednesday arrested in Abuja by the Department of State Security (DSS) and policemen, for embarking on a one-man protest.
Omirhobo was harassed, arrested and whisked away in a commando-like manner with a Peugeot 505 by the overzealous DSS, while he was still fielding questions from journalists about his motive.
The lone protester who arrived at Supreme Court gate after 9am wore a T- shirt with an inscription “Stop the Genocide” demanded to see President Muhhamadu Buhari.
Omirhobo who lamented the killing of about 43 Nigerians in Zabarmarmi community in Borno state regretted that the farmers were working to promote federal government’s rice sufficiency policy when the gruesome killings occurred.
He further alleged that they were left unprotected by the federal government and allowed to be gruesomely killed by members of Boko Haram.
But as he was yet to complete his mission, the activist was stopped by the policemen attached to the gate along the villa for questioning and he obliged them.
At first, the rights lawyer insisted on proceeding with his march citing his constitutional right as a law abiding citizen to movement and access to villa as long as he remains peaceful without pre-informinh any authority of such visit.
But just as he was being pleaded to by a superintendent of police Isah Hadejia, from continuing with the protest, promising to transmit his demands to the appropriate quarters, the DSS arrived.
They immediately demobilised the press men on sight and bundled the protester into a vehicle, and headed towards the presidential villa.
Before his arrest, the rights lawyer told Journalists that his protest was aimed at asking the President to end what he described as genocide against Nigerians especially in the North East.
He said, “Coming on the heels of the slaughtering of 110 farmers in Borno State, I am here to tell the President that enough is enough. He should stop playing the ostrich because the government is not doing enough and these evil people continued to perpetrate killings of innocent and harmless Nigerians.
“I am saying it categorically that the government is conniving, conspiring and assisting this crime against humanity, and that is why I am here to protest. I came here now, but the officers are saying that I cannot exercise my rights.”
Meanwhile, as effort was still being made by newsmen to know Omirhobo’s destination, information filtered in that he has been taking to the FCT Command for further questioning.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts made by Blueprint to get the Spokesperson of the FCT Command for confirmation was futile as her phone did not connect.
