JUST IN: Soldiers Barricade Major Abuja Road Ahead of Planned Hunger Protest

Commuters on the Keffi-Abuja expressway faced severe disruptions on Monday as military officers conducted an extensive stop-and-search operation. The sudden blockade, set up at Sani Abacha barracks before the AYA roundabout, left many stranded.

The unexpected security measure created a gridlock that extended to the Nyanya Bridge, over 12 kilometers from the checkpoint. Without any prior warning, the blockade caught numerous civil servants and traders off guard, many of whom live in Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka and commute to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for work.

The traffic standstill forced many commuters to abandon their plans and return home after hours of waiting. This incident comes just 72 hours before a planned nationwide protest against the rising cost of living and economic hardship in Nigeria, set to begin on August 1.

The upcoming protest, organized by youth groups, aims to highlight the increasing economic challenges faced by Nigerians.