Prof. Wole Soyinka, has warned against the use of force against the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners, saying that the group should allowed to protest.
The Nobel Laureate said this on Thursday at a symposium to start the 20th anniversary programme of Halifield Schools, Maryland, Lagos.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had on Wednesday, warned the BBOG campaigners to desist from protesting because it posed a security threat to public peace and order.
However, Soyinka, in his reaction said it would be dangerous to forget the missing Chibok girls, adding that protests by the group could not be too much as long as the Chibok girls remained Boko Haram captives.
He said, “I saw a report in a national daily that demonstrations on behalf of the Chibok girls pose a threat to national security and I thought, not again. My mind flew back immediately to another governor under whose democratic leadership, parents were tear-gassed for demonstrating peacefully about losing their children in a plane crash in Port Harcourt.
“Democracy is not just about campaigning. It is exercising human rights. It is about helping to build the society. Demonstrations cannot be too much as long as those girls are missing. Demonstrations are an act of solidarity. Wherever they are today, when their mothers demonstrate on their behalf, their morale is raised.
“That is my message to security operatives who get scared of those who are agitating for a cause and fire tear gas at them. They must be treated with utmost respect and must be given their space. It is an act of solidarity for the children. Otherwise, when you stop these demonstrations, you are saying forget about the children.’’