Security agencies imposed a heavy lockdown across Abuja on Monday as a planned protest demanding the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu disrupted movement around the Presidential Villa and other key areas in the city.
The demonstration was organised by Omoyele Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC). It prompted a swift response from combined forces of the police, soldiers, and Department of State Services (DSS), who established barricades and conducted stop-and-search operations at major entry points into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Access to the Three Arms Zone, which houses the Presidential Villa and other government offices, was heavily restricted. Even workers holding valid permits were turned away or redirected to alternative parking areas. One employee expressed confusion on social media over the tight security, saying, “Please, can someone find out what is going on in the Villa? All access roads are blocked. Nobody is allowed in, even with tags.”
Traffic was gridlocked along several major corridors, including the Keffi-Abuja Expressway, Karu Bridge near the Sani Abacha Barracks, Dutse-Bwari Road, and Airport Road. Commuters, particularly civil servants and traders from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, and Masaka, experienced severe delays.
Motorists coming from the airport axis were diverted at the National Mosque, with security forces blocking routes leading to the Central Business District. An advisory circulated among workers instructed commuters to follow alternative routes to avoid blocked areas.
Security personnel also maintained a visible presence around Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the National Assembly to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Nnamdi Kanu has been detained since June 2021 following his extradition to Nigeria. Despite several court orders mandating his release, he remains in custody. His supporters have repeatedly called for his unconditional release, citing concerns over his health and prolonged detention.
