Security operatives on Thursday barricaded all roads leading to the presidential villa and Eagle Square in Abuja, venue of a planned protest calling for the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
The personnel included officers of the police, army, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The protest is organised by the Take-It-Back Movement, a civil society organisation managed by Omoyele Sowore, activist and former presidential candidate.
The development caused heavy human and vehicular traffic around the Eagle Square and adjoining routes emptying into Aso Rock — the nation’s seat of power.
Many commuters, particularly civil servants heading to the federal secretariat, were forced to walk long distances to their offices.
As of the time of filing this report, no protesters were at the Eagle Square venue.
The planned demonstration follows similar protests held recently in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, where teachers and civil society groups called on the government to take urgent steps to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all in Oriire LGA.
At least 45 schoolchildren and teachers were abducted during the attack.
The assailants killed an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist in one of the affected schools.
The gunmen also beheaded Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, sparking outrage across the country.