Tension, Traffic Chaos in Abuja as Police Block Anti-Rivers Emergency Rule Protest
Confusion and outrage erupted in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Monday as security forces moved swiftly to suppress a planned protest against the controversial emergency rule in Rivers State and the Cybercrime (Amendment) Act.
In a preemptive show of force, heavily armed riot police barricaded major routes leading to the Federal Secretariat and Eagles Square—popular rallying points for civil protests. The blockade, which began before dawn, left hundreds of workers and commuters stranded, sparking anger and gridlock across the city.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of disruption and disarray as frustrated civil servants, unable to access their offices, were forced to abandon buses and trek long distances under the watchful eyes of security personnel.
“They didn’t give any reason. They just blocked the roads and told us to turn back. How does this make sense on a Monday morning?” asked a visibly upset federal worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The police presence, intended to deter the protest, ironically caused a public uproar as photos and videos of stranded commuters and congested roads circulated widely on social media, further fueling criticism of the government’s handling of dissent.
Despite the growing tensions, the police refused to comment on the rationale behind the early-morning lockdown or the decision to disrupt normal business activities in a city already grappling with economic and security pressures.
Critics argue that the security clampdown is yet another sign of shrinking civic space in Nigeria, where peaceful protest is increasingly treated as a threat rather than a democratic right.
While no violence was reported, the message from authorities was clear: dissent, even in its most peaceful form, would not be tolerated—at least not near the seat of power.
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Tension, Traffic Chaos in Abuja as Police Block Anti-Rivers Emergency Rule Protest