Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration and concern following the heavy deployment of military personnel and roadblocks in parts of Abuja during a protest on Thursday 4th May, 2026, demanding the release of abducted school children in Oyo State.
The protest, led by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, drew a large number of demonstrators who converged on the nation’s capital to call for urgent action from the government over the abduction.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed heavily armed military personnel stationed at strategic locations, particularly around the Federal Secretariat Complex and areas leading to the Presidential Villa. Armoured vehicles and military checkpoints were also deployed, restricting access to key roads.
The security measures prevented protesters from accessing routes leading to the Federal Secretariat and the State House, forcing many residents and workers in the affected areas to trek considerable distances to their offices and places of business.
Several residents voiced their displeasure over the situation, describing the military presence as intimidating and disruptive to daily activities.
One visibly angry resident questioned the necessity of the extensive deployment.
“What’s the meaning of all these? Soldiers everywhere! These people know what to do; instead of doing the right thing, they won’t because they have security personnel to resist the protesting Nigerians,” the resident said.
The protest comes amid growing public concern over insecurity and the increasing cases of kidnapping across parts of the country. Demonstrators insisted that authorities must intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted children and improve security measures to prevent future incidents.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security agencies regarding the deployment or the road restrictions in the affected areas.