Security presence was reinforced on Thursday around access routes to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, with anti-riot police officers cordoning off the main gates of the State House amid a planned protest by human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) chieftain, Omoyele Sowore, over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno States
According to Punch Online, the security build-up followed Sowore’s declaration that he would lead a march to the Presidential Villa if the schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno States were not rescued.
He had mobilised supporters under the hashtag #OccupyAsoRock.
There was a heavy deployment of anti-riot policemen at the main entrance to the Villa, with personnel in full riot gear forming a tight cordon around the gates and access points.
Access to the State House remained strictly restricted to individuals bearing official identification tags, while combat-ready security operatives turned back all others attempting to approach the premises.
Sowore, in a statement on Wednesday, announced that the leadership of the AAC and its affiliate Take-It-Back Movement would march from Eagle Square in Abuja to the Presidential Villa beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4.
He said the protest would demand the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and other victims kidnapped across the country, insisting that President Bola Tinubu must ensure their safe return or resign for failing in his constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“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,” Sowore said.
“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 also challenged security operatives deployed to protect political leaders, saying their own children were also at risk in the current insecurity situation.
“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 is in response to the May 15, 2026, abductions of about 39 students and seven teachers from three schools — Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School — in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State.
On the same day, 42 pupils were also abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
In response to the incidents, the Federal Government on Sunday dispatched a high-powered delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, along with the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and Minister of Defence, to Ogbomosoland affected by the attacks.
During the visit, President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and the deployment of a specialised rescue unit, while also calling for enhanced community cooperation and a blend of kinetic and non-kinetic security strategies.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State beginning June 1, with schools shut down and solidarity protests held across several state capitals on June 2 over the worsening security situation.
