Security was tightened around the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday as anti-riot police officers took positions at the main entrances ahead of a planned protest led by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The heightened security followed Sowore’s threat to lead demonstrators to the Presidential Villa if the schoolchildren recently abducted in Oyo and Borno states were not rescued.
Reports from the area showed a strong presence of anti-riot police officers dressed in full protective gear and stationed around the Villa’s gates. Access to the State House was strictly limited to individuals with valid identification, while security personnel turned away those without official clearance.
A day earlier, Sowore announced that members of the AAC and the Take It Back Movement would embark on a protest march from Eagle Square to the Presidential Villa under the hashtag #OccupyAsoRock. The demonstration, scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., was organised to demand the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and other victims of kidnapping across the country.
According to Sowore, the protest was intended to pressure the Federal Government into taking decisive action. He argued that President Bola Tinubu must either ensure the safe return of the abducted children or step down, insisting that the government had failed in its fundamental duty of protecting lives and property.
Speaking ahead of the march, Sowore criticised what he described as the government’s misplaced priorities, questioning why large numbers of security personnel were deployed to monitor peaceful protesters rather than protect vulnerable schools.
“You cannot claim to be the President of Nigeria and refuse to perform the duties of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said. “We are simply asking elected leaders to fulfil their responsibility to protect Nigerians. It would be far more beneficial if the officers deployed to stop this protest were protecting our schools instead.”
He also appealed directly to security personnel, reminding them that their own children could one day face similar dangers if insecurity in schools remained unchecked.
The protest stems from the abduction of approximately 39 students and seven teachers on May 15, 2026, from 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, another kidnapping incident occurred in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where 42 pupils were reportedly taken from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School.
In response, the Federal Government dispatched a high-level delegation to the affected communities in Oyo State. The team, led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, included the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chief of Defence Staff.
During the visit, President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and authorised the deployment of a specialised rescue unit to support efforts to secure the release of the victims. The government also urged local communities to cooperate with security agencies, assuring residents that both military and non-military strategies were being employed in the ongoing rescue operations.
The abductions have also sparked reactions within the education sector. On June 1, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) began an indefinite strike in Oyo State, leading to the closure of schools across the state. The union further organised solidarity rallies nationwide on June 2, calling for the safe return of the abducted pupils and stronger security measures to protect schools.
