Commuters travelling on the Keffi-Abuja expressway were stuck in traffic on Monday as military officers set up a roadblock to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering the nation’s capital.
According to DailyTrust, the unexpected blockade occurred at the Sani Abacha barracks before the popular AYA roundabout, causing significant disruption.
The security agencies did not provide any prior warning before implementing the checkpoint, resulting in a massive traffic gridlock that extended as far as Nyanya Bridge, more than 12 kilometres from the roadblock.
This left many civil servants, traders, and other commuters who live in areas such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka, and work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), unable to reach their destinations.
After hours of being stuck in the standstill traffic, numerous commuters were forced to abandon their journeys and return home.
The unexpected roadblock comes just three days before the planned nationwide protest against the economic hardship in Nigeria.
Several youth groups have announced their intention to commence a nationwide protest starting August 1, citing the rising cost of living and economic challenges as the primary reasons for their demonstration.
The increased military presence and the subsequent traffic chaos have added to the tensions already building ahead of the protests.
