Armed security personnel have taken over major access roads leading to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the Federal Capital Territory.
The massive deployment comes amid tension over a planned mass protest by civil society groups.
The demonstrators are demanding the rescue of students and teachers recently taken hostage by terrorists in Borno and Oyo states.
Soldiers, police officers, and secret service operatives locked down strategic junctions early Thursday morning to prevent protesters from approaching the seat of power. Teams from the civil defence corps, immigration service, and local vigilante groups also joined the operation.
Security agents set up metal barricades and conducted strict stop-and-search operations on the few vehicles allowed past the outer cordons.
The strict security measures ground commercial activities to a halt in the central business district. Civil servants heading to the Federal Secretariat and lawyers going to the Supreme Court found their usual routes completely blocked. Motorists faced long delays in gridlock, while hundreds of commuters had to walk long distances after commercial vehicles were turned back at checkpoints.
The planned demonstration was organized by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and the Take It Back Movement. Activists scheduled the peaceful march to kick off at Eagle Square before moving toward the Presidential Villa.
The organizers expressed deep frustration over the wave of mass abductions targeting educational institutions across Nigeria. They insisted that the federal government must secure the immediate release of all captives or face calls for leadership changes.
Despite the heavy security presence, no gathering of protesters had occurred near the villa gates by mid-morning. However, the sight of heavily armed troops patrolling the streets created panic among residents going about their daily routines. Many business owners in the area chose to lock their premises early out of fear of possible clashes.
