By Milcah Tanimu
On Monday, commuters using the Keffi-Abuja expressway experienced significant disruptions as military personnel set up a blockade to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering Abuja. The roadblock was positioned at Sani Abacha Barracks, near the AYA roundabout.
The security check caused severe traffic congestion, extending as far as Nyanya Bridge, over 12 kilometers from the blockade site. This unexpected action left many travelers, including civil servants and traders from outlying areas such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka, stranded. After several hours of delays, many were forced to turn back home.
This military intervention comes just three days before a planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, where youths are expected to demonstrate against the escalating cost of living and economic hardships in Nigeria.