A tense atmosphere gripped the MKO National Stadium in Abuja on Thursday morning as pro- and anti-government protesters clashed. Although no violence was reported, fears and confusion mounted.
Pro-government protesters, mostly young people brought in by five coaster buses, gathered at one end of the stadium, singing praises of President Bola Tinubu. They brandished placards with inscriptions like “No protest in Abuja, we want peace.”
Meanwhile, anti-government protesters, waving Nigerian flags and placards calling for an end to bad governance, were barricaded at the other end by combined security forces.
The protesters were surrounded by security operatives at one of the stadium gates, which was locked.
New Telegraph’s investigation revealed that all entrances to the National Stadium were tightly shut. Public arenas like Eagle Square, Millennium Park, and Unity Fountain were taken over by armed security operatives.
Workers avoided the city centre, with few cars in the parking lots of the Federal Secretariat, FCTA, and other government institutions.
Also, critical public buildings like the Central Bank and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited headquarters were heavily manned by armed security operatives.
