There was heightened security presence surrounding the entrance routes to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja today as anti-riot officers cordoned off the major gates of the State House.
The beef-up in security was in response to a planned march to the Villa by human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who said he would lead protesters to Aso Rock if the abducted school children of Oyo and Borno states are not rescued.
Our journalist, PUNCH says, saw considerable presence of anti-riot policemen at the main entrance of the Villa, with officers in full riot gear establishing a perimeter around the gates.
•The joint security team
Only those possessing State House identity tags were allowed into the premises and security personnel turned back others who tried to approach.
Sowore declared yesterday that the leadership of the AAC and its allied Take It Back Movement would be marching from Eagle Square in Abuja to the Presidential Villa from 8:00 a.m. today, Thursday, June 4 with the hashtag #OccupyAsoRock.
He said the participants would demand the immediate release of school children and other victims kidnapped across Nigeria, while calling on President Tinubu to ensure the safe return of the abducted children or resign from office for failing in the fundamental duty of protecting the lives and security of Nigerians.
Sowore had originally delivered the threat during a protest in the FCT earlier in the week.
“You cannot say you are President of Nigeria and refuse to do the job of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he remarked. We are not here to ask anybody anything.
“We are just asking those who say they are elected to protect Nigerians to do their work. “It would be great if the number of policemen who are preventing this march could instead protect our schools.”
He also challenged security agents shielding politicians stating, “Your children are also in schools. “If the school is a place for kidnapping, one day your children will also be kidnapped.”
The planned march is directed at the government’s response to the May 15, 2026 abductions of about 39 students and seven teachers in three schools including Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
On the same day, a second kidnapping was reported involving 42 kids of Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, Askira-Uba, Borno State.
The federal government on Sunday sent a high-powered delegation to the affected Oyo communities led by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, which included the NSA, the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff. Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1000 forest guards and deployment of a specialised rescue unit.
The operation would be carried out by kinetic and non-kinetic methods, the administration also called for community assistance.
Nigeria Union of Teachers began an indefinite strike in Oyo State on June 1, leading to school closures and nationwide solidarity protests in state capitals on June 2.
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