Nigerian Soldiers Occupy Eagle Square, Key Locations in Abuja Ahead of #EndBadGovernance Protest

Nigerian Soldiers Occupy Eagle Square, Key Locations in Abuja Ahead of #EndBadGovernance Protest

July 29, 2024

As the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protest approaches, Nigerian soldiers have taken decisive action, deploying armed personnel and armored tanks to key locations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Multiple videos and images circulating on social media, courtesy of SaharaReporters, reveal a heavy security presence at Eagle Square, the proposed site for the upcoming demonstration.

The Nigerian Army has established a substantial security perimeter around strategic areas, including setting up a roadblock at Sani Abacha Barracks near the AYA roundabout. This blockade, implemented with no prior warning to road users, has led to severe traffic disruptions, with congestion extending over 12 kilometers to Nyanya Bridge.

Commuters, including civil servants and traders who typically travel from outlying areas such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka to the city center, have faced significant delays. Many were stranded for hours and ultimately forced to turn back home due to the impassable conditions.

In related developments, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on the Nigerian government to prevent the nationwide protest, which he claims could have broader implications across Africa if allowed to proceed on August 1, 2024. Kalu expressed his concerns during a recent appearance on Arise TV, urging authorities to avert what he described as a potentially destabilizing event.