The Presidential Villa precinct in Abuja was placed under heavy security on Thursday as authorities restricted access to residents, government workers and individuals with official engagements within the State House area.
The heightened security measures followed threats of a protest over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
A combined team of military personnel, police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) established security checkpoints along major routes leading to the Presidential Villa, including access roads from the Federal Secretariat, Supreme Court and Asokoro areas.
Security operatives conducted thorough screening of motorists and pedestrians, demanding identification and verification of their destinations before granting entry. Individuals without legitimate business within the State House precinct were turned back and directed to alternative routes.
The restrictions caused disruptions to traffic movement around parts of the Three Arms Zone and adjoining roads as security agencies intensified surveillance across strategic locations.
The security build-up comes amid plans by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to lead a protest to the Presidential Villa if pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are not rescued.
Sowore had joined demonstrators in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday, where protesters demanded urgent action from the government to secure the release of the victims kidnapped on May 15.
During the demonstration, he criticised the government’s response to insecurity and vowed to continue public protests until the abductees regain their freedom.
According to him, protesters would march to the Presidential Villa if the victims remained in captivity, insisting that the federal government must fulfil its responsibility of protecting citizens and ensuring national security.
As of the time of filing this report, security personnel remained deployed across key entry points to the Presidential Villa, while access restrictions continued to be strictly enforced.
