British, Irish envoys shun demonstrators, Nigerians to occupy embassies for one week

Protesters who stormed the British and Irish high commissions yesterday for reversal of the judgment have vowed to occupy the buildings for one week.

The decision followed their alleged snubbing by the authorities at the embassies.

The about 5000 youths and adults under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Groups and drawn from across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) defied the early morning rains with their placards bearing various messages amid chants of anti-colonial songs.

While the march lasted, both the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing CB and the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Seán Hoy, refused to address the demonstrators.

Even their letter of complaints was neither received by the envoys nor members of staff, as it was instead, read by the president of the coalition, Etuk Bassey, assisted by the secretary, Abubakar Ibrahim.

Angered by the envoys’ behaviour, the protesters resolved to press on with the picketing of the two embassies until they get the audience and submit their complaints about onward transmission to London and Dublin.