Ahead of the planned nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1, soldiers have increased their presence at key locations, including Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
According to Plateau News, this move coincides with the announcement by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing that Igbo youths will not be participating in the protest, set to run from August 1 to 10, 2024.
Reports from The Punch indicate heightened military activity across Enugu city. Armed soldiers have been stationed at strategic points, including the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Junction on the old Abakaliki-Emene road, Abakpa Junction, and New Heaven Junction on the Enugu-Abakaliki road, where an Armored Personnel Carrier equipped with surveillance cameras was observed.
Simultaneously, commuters on the Keffi-Abuja expressway faced significant delays on Monday due to a sudden military roadblock.
According to DailyTrust, this checkpoint was set up without prior warning at the Sani Abacha barracks before the AYA roundabout, causing a massive traffic gridlock that extended more than 12 kilometers to the Nyanya Bridge.
This disruption affected civil servants, traders, and other commuters from areas like Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka who work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving many unable to reach their destinations.
The increased military presence and roadblocks underscore the government’s heightened security measures in anticipation of potential unrest during the upcoming protests.