Armed security personnel from the Army, Police, and Department of State Services took control of all entry points to the Presidential Villa on Thursday, creating a formidable blockade that turned away motorists and pedestrians without official business. The unprecedented security lockdown, which began at 7 a.m., targeted the two main access routes from the Federal Secretariat and Asokoro, leaving only residents, government officials, and workers with verifiable engagements allowed through.
The heavy-handed measures come amid mounting tensions over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, with rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore threatening to lead a protest march to the seat of power if the captives were not freed by Thursday. “On Thursday, we are going to Aso Rock Villa if the children are not rescued,” Sowore declared. “You cannot claim to be president of Nigeria and refuse to do the job of the commander of the armed forces.”
At the checkpoints, security operatives subjected all visitors to rigorous scrutiny, demanding identification and detailed explanations of their destinations before granting passage. Many motorists without valid reasons were denied entry and redirected, causing significant traffic disruptions around the Three Arms Zone and adjacent roads. The heightened security reflects the government’s determination to prevent any protest from reaching the Presidential Villa, as Sowore’s threat to march on the seat of power underscores the growing public frustration over the abduction crisis.
