BREAKING: Huge confusion as soldiers ‘take over’ popular Abuja road as powerful hardship protest looms, see details

• Military men have reportedly barricaded the Keffi-Abuja expressway 72 hours before the planned nationwide protest in Nigeria
• In recent weeks, talks of a nationwide protest to express citizens’ grievances with the state of the nation have dominated the public space
• Legit.ng gathered that the stop-and-search operation on vehicles by security operatives left commuters stranded in Abuja

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering metro and government policies.

FCT, Abuja - Road users plying the Keffi-Abuja expressway were on Monday, July 29, left stranded.

This was after military officers barricaded the highway to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering the nation’s capital.

Nigerian Army had vowed to uphold public order if the planned protest holds. Photo credit: Kola Sulaimon
Source: Getty Images

As reported by Daily Trust, the soldiers mounted a roadblock at Sani Abacha barracks before the popular AYA roundabout.

Security agencies did not give any prior warning. The blockade has caused a gridlock extending as far as Nyanya Bridge, more than 12 kilometres from the checkpoint.

Abuja: Confused workers return home

Civil servants and traders who work in the federal capital territory (FCT) live outside the city centre in places such as Karu, Maraba, Nyanya, and Masaka.

After hours of standstill, many of them were forced to return home.

The soldiers' action is coming three days before the planned nationwide protest.

Watch the video below:

Legit.ng reports that Nigerians are grappling with hardship that allegedly emerged from economic policies and reforms put in place by President Bola Tinubu since he assumed office in May 2023.

Soaring inflation has eroded incomes and hurt millions of Nigerians struggling to meet their basic needs.

For these reasons, some citizens are planning nationwide protests from Thursday, August 1, to demand economic and political reforms, but the government is using all its resources to suppress them.

More to read on planned nationwide protest

• IGP gives intending protesters condition to allow nationwide protest against hardship
• IGP discloses those recruited to hijack planned protests, cause vast damage, details emerge
• End bad governance: ‘Nigeria’s problems beyond protests’, former presidential candidate speaks out

Protest: Military talks tough

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the defence headquarters warned against planned protests to demand effective government action over the current hardship in the country.

Defence spokesperson, Major-General Edward Buba, said based on intelligence at the army's disposal, the proposed nationwide protest would be hijacked by some unscrupulous elements.

Buba added that those encouraging the planned demonstration want to copy the recent Kenya protest, which according to him, was 'violent'.

Source: Legit.ng