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.

The Anambra State government has promised to deliver justice for a 16-year-old girl who was repeatedly gang-raped by eight men, including her legal guardian, in the Nawfia community of Njikoka Local Government Area.

State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Onyekesi, made the declaration on Thursday when the teenage victim was brought to her office in Awka. The commissioner, visibly overcome with emotion, wept openly as she listened to the survivor’s account.

Onyekesi vowed that all perpetrators involved in what she described as a “dastardly act” would face the full weight of the law, stating that such prosecutions would serve as a critical deterrent to others who might exploit vulnerable young women.

Victim’s Guardian Among Suspects

According to the teenager’s testimony, her guardian had been forcing himself on her every night before other men joined in the repeated sexual assaults. The guardian’s wife, the victim disclosed, suffers from a stroke and was physically incapable of intervening to stop the abuse.

A medical report presented to the commissioner confirmed the devastating physical consequence of the assaults: the 16-year-old is now two months pregnant.

Catholic Priest Intervenes

The case came to official attention through a Catholic priest from Nawfia community, who learned of the abuse and immediately intervened on the victim’s behalf. The priest facilitated bringing the teenager to the commissioner’s office for protection.

Police Investigation Underway

The victim told Commissioner Onyekesi that a “Good Samaritan” had orchestrated her rescue from the abusive situation last week, leading to initial arrests before she was taken to safety at the ministry.

Police at the Nawfia Division have arrested two of the eight suspects, according to the victim. The remaining six are currently at large and being pursued by law enforcement authorities. The case is now being handled at the Nawfia Police station.

Government Response

Speaking with visible outrage, Commissioner Onyekesi condemned the crime in the strongest possible terms.

“The state government condemns this act in strong terms, and the ministry will ensure that all perpetrators in this dastardly act are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others,” Onyekesi said.

She expressed deep distress over the level of trauma the teenager had endured at the hands of adults entrusted with her protection, calling the situation “unacceptable.”

“We urge men to protect women and young girls, rather than take advantage of their vulnerability,” the commissioner added. “The ministry assured the victim of her safety and pledged to follow the case diligently to ensure justice is served.”

Previous Incident in the Area

The case emerges against a backdrop of growing concern over sexual violence in the region. In May, the body of 60-year-old Victoria Adegoke was discovered abandoned in a nearby bush. The woman was found naked, with authorities suspecting she had been raped and strangled before her body was dragged from the scene.

Peter Obi used his X account to caution Nigerian youths against being drawn into ethnic or religious divisions amid renewed online criticism of Peter Obi over comments involving the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye.

He warned that political actors often exploit identity-based narratives when they struggle to compete on ideas, saying such tactics were evident during the 2023 elections and continue in more subtle forms today.

Obi defended Adeboye, describing him as a respected religious leader who has consistently preached peace and unity, and said it was unfair to expect an 84-year-old cleric to take on responsibilities that belong to younger Nigerians.

He also urged young people to verify information before sharing it, resist manipulation, and focus on unity and national development rather than division.

In short: the message was both a defence of Adeboye and a broader warning against ethnic-driven political narratives online.