Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Thursday said protesters defied what he described as threats and a heavy deployment of security personnel in Abuja to demonstrate against the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity and the continued abduction of schoolchildren.
Speaking during the protest tagged #OccupyAsoRock, Sowore said the march was aimed at drawing attention to the worsening security situation in the country and demanding urgent action from President Bola Tinubu.
“Despite threats and the massive deployment of soldiers, we marched against Tinubu’s incompetence in handling insecurity and his obvious inability to rescue kidnapped schoolchildren,” Sowore said during the demonstration.
According to him, the protesters conveyed their demands directly despite the presence of security operatives deployed around key locations in the Federal Capital Territory.
“We made it clear—even to the soldiers deployed against us—that Tinubu must either ensure the safe rescue of these children or resign from office,” he added.
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The protest comes amid growing concerns over the spate of kidnappings and attacks on schools across Nigeria, with civil society groups and activists calling on the government to strengthen efforts to secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers and improve security nationwide.
Security was heightened around strategic areas in Abuja, including routes leading to the Presidential Villa, as authorities monitored the demonstration. Despite the security presence, protesters continued their march while chanting slogans including “Tinubu Must Go.”
The Federal Government has yet to officially respond to Sowore’s remarks as of the time of filing this report.