Security operatives surround Presidential Villa

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Security was on Thursday morning beefed up around the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of a protest rally being planned by #BringBackOurGirls campaigners seeking the rescue of the abducted pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The campaigners had threatened to take their protest to the Presidential Villa where they are expecting President Goodluck Jonathan to address them on efforts being made to secure freedom for the girls that were seized from the hostels since April 14.

The march is scheduled to start from the Unity Fountain, located close to Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Maitama, at 3pm, and proceed to the Presidential Villa through the Federal Secretariat.

But as of the time of this report, armed security men have been drafted to the two gates leading to the Villa, apparently to stop the protesters from gaining access.

At the Villa gate, approaching from the Fire Service side of Asokoro, policemen and soldiers armed with batons and others had been stationed a few metres to the spot where men of the State Security Service are always stationed.

Same situation obtained at the Villa Gate at the Federal Secretariat end.

Armed policemen and soldiers attached to the Brigades of Guards were stationed at a spot between the Villa Gate and the access road that leads to the National Assembly.