Abuja witnessed heavy security deployment on Monday as security agencies sealed off major routes leading to the Presidential Villa as a result of the planned protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Naijaonpoint reports that the protest, convened by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore under the #RevolutionNow movement, led to traffic disruptions across the city.
Soldiers, police officers, and hooded operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) mounted barricades around the Three Arms Zone, intensifying stop-and-search operations. Even staff of the Villa with official permits were denied access.
According to Vanguard, a frustrated staff member took to social media, writing, “Please, can someone find out what is going on in the Villa? All access roads are blocked. Nobody is allowed in, even with tags.”
The security lockdown triggered heavy traffic on the Keffi–Abuja Expressway, with soldiers manning checkpoints at Karu Bridge near the Sani Abacha Barracks as early as 4 a.m. Thousands of civil servants and traders commuting from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, and Masaka were caught in the gridlock.
Similar blockades were reported along the Dutse–Bwari axis and Airport Road. An advisory shared among workers read, “Good morning, dear colleagues. Please, if you are coming from Airport Road to Central Area, follow Area 1. Security blocked from National Mosque.”
Security patrols were stationed at Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the National Assembly to forestall possible disruptions from protesters and counter-protest groups.
Kanu, extradited to Nigeria in June 2021, remains in the custody of the Department of State Services despite several court rulings ordering his release.
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