2 weeks ago
8
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — Heavy information beingness enveloped the Presidential Villa and large routes crossed Abuja connected Monday pursuing plans for a protestation demanding the merchandise of the detained person of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The demonstration, organized by activistic and erstwhile statesmanlike campaigner Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, caused postulation disruptions astatine cardinal introduction points into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Security agencies, including soldiers, constabulary officers, and hooded operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were deployed successful ample numbers, sealing disconnected entree to the Three Arms Zone and intensifying stop-and-search operations.
Even unit of the Presidential Villa with authoritative parking permits were redirected to alternate routes arsenic each introduction points astir the State House were temporarily closed.
A Villa unit subordinate took to societal media to explicit vexation implicit the lockdown, writing: “Please, tin idiosyncratic find retired what is going connected successful the Villa? All entree roads are blocked. Nobody is allowed in, adjacent with tags.”
The information measures caused dense gridlock on the Keffi–Abuja Expressway, arsenic soldiers mounted checkpoints astatine the Karu Bridge adjacent the Sani Abacha Barracks arsenic aboriginal arsenic 4 a.m. Civil servants and traders commuting from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, and Masaka were peculiarly affected.
Similar information cordons were reported on the Dutse–Bwari axis and Airport Road, wherever travelers heading toward the Central Business District were advised to instrumentality detours. One advisory circulated among workers read: “Good morning, beloved colleagues. Please, if you are coming from Airport Road to Central Area, travel Area 1. Security blocked from National Mosque.”
Security patrols were besides disposable astir Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the National Assembly to forestall imaginable disruptions.
Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested and extradited to Nigeria successful June 2021, remains successful detention contempt aggregate tribunal orders for his release. His supporters person continued to equine unit connected the Federal Government, citing concerns implicit his deteriorating health.
The station Aso Villa nether choky information arsenic #FreeNnamdiKanu protestation grips Abuja appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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