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The Amnesty International office in Nigeria has questioned why the Nigerian Army would be involved in peaceful protest against rape allegation levelled against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, founder and senior pastor of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) in Abuja.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Amnesty International in series of tweets on Sunday, while the protests were ongoing simultaneously in Abuja and Lagos, described as intimidating and threatening, the presence of the Army, saying, “Nigerians have right to peacefully assemble” and to “say no to rape”.
Why is Nigerian Army @HQNigerianArmy involved in peaceful protest against #RAPE in Abuja? Nigerians have right to peacefully assemble & say no to rape. #Metoo #ChurchMeToo #ChurchToo #SayNoToRape
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— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) June 30, 2019
The protests against rape in Abuja & Lagos are peaceful. Heavy deployment of soldiers of Nigerian Army @HQNigerianArmy is intimidating & threatening to protesters. #Rape #Metoo #ChurchMeToo #ChurchToo #SayNoToRape #Nigeria
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) June 30, 2019
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The protest against #rape is going on peacefully despite intimidation by soldiers, police & hired thugs. Saying no to rape is not a crime. Seeking justice for victims of rape is not a crime. #ChurchTooMovement #ChurchToo #MeToo #Nigeria #SayNoToRape pic.twitter.com/JT8OPPcQ3Q
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— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) June 30, 2019
All that #Nigerians are saying today and henceforth is; end rape. Rapist must face justice. #SayNoToRape #ChurchMeToo #MeToo #ChurchToo #ProtestIsAHumanRight pic.twitter.com/TCGeaK2Yka
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) June 30, 2019
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Meanwhile, the Army, through its spokesperson Sagir Musa, had said soldiers seen at the COZA headquarters in Abuja were not there to provide security or harass protesters, stressing that the military was holding an interdenominational service across the country today, and that soldiers were expected to take part in the worship.
However, Amnesty International welcomed the presence of men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), while charging they “must maintain peace and ensure protesters are not attacked in Lagos or Abuja during the protests against rape”.
Police @PoliceNG must maintain peace and ensure protesters are not attacked in Lagos or Abuja during the protests against #rape.
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) June 30, 2019
Leading to the protest by the #ChurchTooMovement, Busola Dakolo, the wife of popular musician, Timi Dakolo, had on Friday accused Fatoyinbo of raping her 20 years ago which the cleric debunked via a press release.