Abuja was thrown into a state of confusion and gridlock Monday morning as heavily armed police operatives barricaded major roads leading to the Federal Secretariat and the iconic Eagles Square, grounding movement and fueling tension across the nation’s capital.
The dramatic security lockdown, which began before dawn, was reportedly a preemptive measure to forestall protests over the controversial cybercrime law and growing calls against the proposed emergency rule in Rivers State—a political storm that has been gathering strength for weeks.
Eyewitnesses told Abuja Network News that dozens of police vehicles were stationed at strategic junctions, turning the usually busy corridors into impassable zones. Workers, civil servants, and early-morning commuters were caught unawares, forced to abandon vehicles and trek long distances under the stern watch of security agents.
“I left home at 6:30 a.m., only to be dropped off far from my office. The entire Secretariat area was cordoned off. It felt like a war zone,” said Bassey Okon, a civil servant.
The lockdown caused massive traffic snarls stretching several kilometers, with angry motorists honking endlessly in frustration. The city centre became a theatre of confusion as citizens scrambled to understand the reason behind the sudden clampdown.
So far, no official statement has been released by the police or any security agency to explain the unprecedented disruption. However, insiders suggest the move was aimed at neutralizing mobilization for a massive protest that had been quietly brewing on social media over the weekend.
Analysts have raised concerns over the growing trend of silencing dissent through police barricades and internet surveillance—an irony not lost on Nigerians protesting the very law that critics say threatens their digital freedoms.
As the situation unfolds, Abuja residents remain on edge, with many questioning the government’s growing reliance on force over dialogue.
More details to follow…