Aso Rock Heavily Fortified as Police Block Sowore’s Planned Protest March
Security was significantly reinforced around the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday as anti-riot police officers sealed off key access points to Aso Rock amid a planned protest led by activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The heightened security comes ahead of a scheduled march under the hashtag #OccupyAsoRock, which Sowore said would demand urgent government action over the recent wave of school kidnappings across Nigeria.
Heavy Security Deployment at Presidential Villa
Eyewitnesses reported a strong presence of armed anti-riot officers stationed at the main entrance of the State House, with access tightly restricted to individuals carrying official identification tags.
Security operatives were seen forming barricades at strategic points, effectively blocking movement into the Presidential Villa area. Several individuals without clearance were turned back.
The development followed intelligence suggesting a planned protest march targeting the seat of power over the government’s handling of recent abductions in parts of the country.
Sowore’s Planned #OccupyAsoRock Protest
Sowore had earlier announced that members of the African Action Congress (AAC) and the Take It Back Movement would march from Eagle Square to the Presidential Villa at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday.
He said the protest was triggered by the continued captivity of schoolchildren and other victims of abductions in Oyo and Borno states, insisting that the government had failed in its constitutional duty to protect citizens.
According to him, the demonstration was not merely symbolic but a demand for urgent action, including the immediate rescue of abducted students or accountability from the presidency.
He also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s role as Commander-in-Chief, arguing that failure to secure citizens amounted to a breach of leadership responsibility.
Rising Tension Over Nationwide Kidnappings
The planned protest is linked to recent mass abductions recorded on May 15, 2026, when armed attackers seized students and teachers from multiple schools in Oyo State, including Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
On the same day, another attack in Borno State led to the abduction of dozens of pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba.
Government Response and Security Measures
In response to the incidents, the Federal Government deployed a high-level delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside top security officials including the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chief of Defence Staff.
Authorities have since approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and intensified rescue operations using both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State, while solidarity protests have spread across several parts of the country.
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