There was a heavy security presence around the Three Arms Zone in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Thursday following plans by the Take-It-Back Movement, a civil society organisation led by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to protest rising insecurity in the country.
The zone was temporarily shut down by security forces as a precautionary measure to ease mounting security tension in the capital territory.
The area houses the National Assembly, the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock), the Supreme Court, the Federal Secretariat, and the popular Eagle Square.
The protesters were specifically calling for the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, but were barricaded from coming close to the Three Arms Zone.
Security agents, including the military, the police, and the Department of State Services (DSS), blocked adjoining roads leading to the zone.
The situation led to heavy traffic around the Three Arms Zone, creating hardship for commuters, who were seen trekking long distances to reach their destinations in the area.
