Access routes leading to Nigeria’s Presidential Villa were heavily restricted from early Thursday morning, as security agencies moved to prevent a planned demonstration by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore. The measures were introduced after Sowore issued a Wednesday ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, warning that he would lead a march to Aso Villa on Thursday if the abducted pupils and teachers from Oyo State were not rescued.
By 8:00 am, all vehicle entry points to the State House were under intense screening. Stringent checkpoints appeared along routes from the Asokoro axis and the Federal Secretariat axis. Anti-riot police, military personnel and other security agencies formed cordons around the main gates and across the Three-Arms Zone. The lockdown caused major traffic disruptions across Abuja as security forces tightened control in anticipation of the demonstration.
Motorists approaching the Presidential Villa from both directions were asked to identify themselves and state their destination. Those with valid State House accreditation were allowed easy passage, while others were turned back. The combined deployment included officers in full riot gear stationed at the Villa’s main entrance.
The planned protest was triggered by the kidnapping of approximately 46 pupils and teachers on May 15 from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate, announced the #OccupyAsoRock march would begin from Eagle Square at 8 a.m. Thursday. He demanded the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and other victims kidnapped across the country, and called on President Tinubu to ensure their safe return or resign for failing in the constitutional duty to protect lives. Ahead of the march, Sowore said, “You cannot claim to be president of Nigeria and then refuse to do the job of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We are not here to beg anybody”.
Despite the planned march to the Presidential Villa, security operatives blocked all access routes to Aso Rock on Thursday, June 4. The protest was instead held in front of the Federal High Court in Abuja after personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, military, DSS and NSCDC barricaded roads leading to the State House. Addressing journalists during the protest, Sowore described the country’s security situation as dire and said, “The situation in Nigeria is the worst of all the countries surrounding us today. We are here as a rehearsal for what might become the final push for a revolution in this country”. He added, “We are asking that Tinubu, with immediate effect, go and rescue the children who were kidnapped from their schools across the country and get them released immediately. So, this march is to harass the release of those children”.
Security personnel sealed off all access leading to the seat of power. A combined team of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Department of State Security Service blocked entry points. Only workers with Presidential Villa tags were granted access after full identification. Soldiers were also observed patrolling around the Federal Capital Territory.
The restrictions followed Sowore’s earlier declaration that members of the AAC and Take It Back Movement would march from Eagle Square to the Presidential Villa. President Tinubu had earlier dispatched a federal delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to affected communities to announce measures for securing the release of victims.
