Security operatives mounted a heavy presence around the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday following plans by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) leader Omoyele Sowore to lead a protest over the continued abduction of schoolchildren in parts of the country.
Anti-riot police officers were deployed to major access points leading to the Presidential Villa, with strict security checks put in place around the State House.
Witnesses reported seeing officers in full riot gear stationed at the main gate, while access to the premises was limited to individuals with valid State House identification.
The development came after Sowore announced that members of the AAC and the Take It Back Movement would march from Eagle Square to Aso Rock under the banner of #OccupyAsoRock.
The protest was organised to demand the rescue of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states, as well as other victims of kidnapping across Nigeria.
Sowore had earlier stated that the demonstration would pressure the Federal Government to act decisively on insecurity, insisting that the protection of citizens remains the primary responsibility of any administration.
“You cannot claim to be president of Nigeria and then refuse to do the job of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We are not here to beg anybody.
“We are just asking people who claim they are elected to protect Nigerians to do their work. It would have been great if the number of policemen preventing this march could instead protect our schools,” he said.
The activist also urged security personnel to consider the broader implications of insecurity, noting that no family is completely immune from the threat of kidnapping.
“Your children are also in schools. If the school becomes a ground for kidnapping, one day your children too will be kidnapped,” he added.
The planned march comes amid growing public outrage over recent cases of school abductions and calls for stronger action against kidnappers and criminal gangs operating across the country.
