Spokesperson for the Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, accused the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners of turning the issue into a franchise.
The hashtag became popularly worldwide following the abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, with similar protests using the hashtag held in several cities of the world. The resilience of the protesters in Nigeria has however irked security operatives who have accused them of distracting operatives from the main fight.
“#BringBackOurGirls movement has become a franchise and security forces know what they are up to. If it is an ordinary movement seeking to pile pressure on government or security agencies to free these girls, there will be no need for the group to begin to have tags and insist that you must be registered.
“Security forces also know that they have bank accounts. We also know that they want to simulate a protest march inside Asokoro Extension in Abuja and claim that they were doing so inside Sambisa Forest, to be reported in some foreign media.
“We also know that they brought in some experts from outside the country to teach them how to beat security when they are demonstrating; to withstand police teargas and security operations. We are waiting to see when these things would work.
“We also know that they are dividing themselves into groups and zones giving each other specific assignments.
“They were also paying courtesy calls to money bags to solicit support. It is getting very ridiculous, but we are still watching.
“There is no need to hire people to come and claim that they have children among the girls that were abducted. It has become a franchise or why would those involved in the movement decide to carry out smear campaign against certain government officials?
“If we have to fight for our rights, let us genuinely fight for our rights by being more transparent,” Ogar said.