Heavily armed anti-riot police officers cordoned off the main gates of the Presidential Villa early Thursday.
The deployment followed plans by Sowore to lead a protest organized by the Take-It-Back Movement.
The movement, which has links to the African Action Congress (AAC), scheduled the march to begin from Eagle Square at 8:00 a.m.
Protesters planned to demand the immediate release of all kidnapped schoolchildren and other victims across Nigeria.
The demonstrators intended to pressure President Tinubu to secure the victims’ freedom or resign over what they described as a failure to protect Nigerians.
In a direct challenge to the government, Sowore said: “You cannot claim to be president of Nigeria and then refuse to do the job of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We are not here to beg anybody.
“We are just asking people who claim they are elected to protect Nigerians to do their work. It would have been great if the number of policemen preventing this march could instead protect our schools.”
Sowore, however, warned security agents assigned to protect politicians that insecurity could affect everyone.
“Your children are also in schools. If the school becomes a ground for kidnapping, one day your children too will be kidnapped,” he said.
The planned protest followed mass abductions that occurred on May 15.
Gunmen kidnapped about 39 students and seven teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State.
Also. Kidnappers also abducted 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba, Borno State, on the same day.
In response, the federal government sent a high-powered delegation to the affected Oyo communities on Sunday. Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila led the team alongside the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police and Chief of Defence Staff.
Following the development, President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and ordered the deployment of a specialised rescue unit.
Authorities said security agencies would combine kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the victims’ release.
The officials urged local communities to support the rescue operation with credible information.
However, growing concerns over insecurity triggered fresh action from teachers in Oyo State. The Nigeria Union of Teachers began an indefinite strike on June 1.
The teachers shut down schools and staged solidarity rallies across state capitals on June 2 to demand urgent action.
The situation has made security to remain tight around the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
Officials allowed access only to people with valid State House identification tags, while security personnel turned others away.
Related Sources
*Presidency Updates and Statements
*Nigeria Police Force Official Website
*National Orientation Agency Security Updates
