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Nigeria’s Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, has reinforced its security presence and deployed anti-riot police officers to cordon off the main gates of the State House.
According to Punch, the security reinforcement follows a planned march to the Villa by human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore had on Sunday declared that he would lead a protest to Aso Rock if the abducted schoolchildren from Oyo and Borno states were not rescued.
Access to the premises was restricted to individuals with State House identification tags, with security personnel turning back others attempting to approach.
On Wednesday, the AAC presidential candidate announced that the leadership of the African Action Congress and its affiliated 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, under the hashtag #OccupyAsoRock.
He said participants would demand the immediate release of schoolchildren and other victims kidnapped across Nigeria, and called on President Bola 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.
“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,” said Sowore.
“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.”
The recent school abductions in Borno and Oyo states in May have triggered public outcry and protests across the country.
On May 15, 2026, about 39 students and seven teachers across 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, were abducted.
Terrorists also abducted 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba, Borno State.
