Heavy security in Aso Rock as Sowore’s planned protest sparks tension in Abuja

Security was significantly tightened around the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday as armed personnel mounted barricades and restricted access to the area ahead of a planned protest led by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

Anti-riot police and other security operatives were deployed in large numbers around key entry points leading to Aso Rock, creating a tense atmosphere as movement into the Villa was limited strictly to authorised personnel with official identification.

Witnesses reported that heavily armed officers were stationed at strategic locations, while thorough checks were conducted on vehicles and individuals approaching the Presidential Villa.

The security buildup followed Sowore’s announcement of a planned demonstration under the “#OccupyAsoRock” movement, which he said was aimed at drawing attention to rising insecurity and recent mass abductions across the country.

The activist, who mobilised members of the African Action Congress (AAC), the Take It Back Movement and other supporters, called for a march from Eagle Square to the Presidential Villa to demand urgent government action to rescue kidnapped schoolchildren and other victims held by armed groups.

Sowore argued that the Federal Government had not done enough to secure educational institutions and vulnerable communities, insisting that protecting lives remains a constitutional duty of the state.

He also criticised what he described as an imbalance in security deployment, alleging that more protection is given to political office holders while rural communities and schools remain exposed to attacks.

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“You cannot claim to be president of Nigeria and refuse to carry out the responsibilities of Commander-in-Chief,” he reportedly said while addressing supporters ahead of the planned protest.

Although security agencies did not officially confirm a direct link between the deployment and the protest, sources indicated that the measures were precautionary, aimed at preventing any disruption around the seat of power.

The development comes amid heightened public concern over insecurity following recent mass kidnappings in parts of the country, including attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno States, where dozens of students and teachers were abducted.

In response to the growing crisis, the Federal Government had earlier dispatched a high-level security delegation, including top defence and police chiefs, to assess affected areas and recommend solutions.

Authorities also announced measures such as the recruitment of forest guards and the creation of a special rescue unit to support counter-kidnapping operations.

Despite these interventions, unions and civil society groups, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Oyo State, have embarked on strikes and protests, citing continued vulnerability of schools to attacks.