On Monday, commuters on the Keffi-Abuja Expressway faced severe traffic disruptions as military officers established an unannounced roadblock to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering the nation’s capital.
The blockade was set up at the Sani Abacha Barracks, just before the AYA roundabout, leading to significant traffic congestion.
According to DailyTrust, there was no prior notice given by security agencies before the checkpoint was implemented.
This caused a massive traffic jam stretching as far back as Nyanya Bridge, over 12 kilometers from the roadblock. As a result, many civil servants, traders, and commuters from areas such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka, who work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were unable to reach their destinations.
After hours of being stuck in traffic, many were forced to abandon their journeys and return home.
The roadblock comes just days before a planned nationwide protest against economic hardships in Nigeria.
Starting August 1, several youth groups have announced a nationwide demonstration in response to the rising cost of living and economic challenges, adding to the heightened tensions in the lead-up to the protests.