Chaos in Abuja as Police Block Protest Routes Over Rivers State Emergency Rule, Cybercrime Law

Confusion and frustration gripped parts of Abuja on Monday as security forces shut down key roads to preempt a planned protest against the contentious cybercrime law and the proposed emergency rule in Rivers State.

Heavily armed police officers mounted blockades overnight, sealing off access to Eagles Square and the Federal Secretariat, both critical government zones and the intended site of the demonstration.

By dawn, thousands of commuters and civil servants were left stranded. Many were turned back or forced to abandon vehicles and trek long distances to reach their offices, some of which share proximity with the protest site. The resulting disruption triggered widespread gridlock, with major roads choked by traffic and confused commuters.

“I don’t understand why the government is punishing workers for a protest that hasn’t even started,” one visibly frustrated civil servant told reporters while navigating the crowded sidewalks.

Despite growing criticism, police officials have so far declined to comment on the road closures or provide justification for the sweeping disruptions on a workday.

The protest was reportedly organized by citizens expressing outrage over what they describe as creeping authoritarianism, citing the cybercrime law as a tool for digital repression and raising alarm over the political implications of a potential emergency rule in Rivers State.