Nigerian Army deployment in Maiduguri leads to postponement of a protest over insecurity and abductions in Borno State

The Nigerian Army on Monday deployed heavy armoured vehicles and armed personnel to Filling Polo in Maiduguri, the planned venue for a protest against rising insecurity and abductions in Borno State.

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When journalists visited the area at about 9:35 a.m., the field was found deserted, while a few suspected organisers were seen observing developments from a distance amid rising tension and uncertainty.

The deployment, carried out by the Nigerian Army, created a heavy security presence that ultimately led to the postponement of the planned protest.

Speaking exclusively, protest organiser Samaila Kaigama, who is also President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, said the demonstration was suspended due to the visible military presence at the location.

Kaigama alleged that the deployment was intended to discourage participation, describing it as an attempt to intimidate peaceful protesters.

He claimed that some residents who travelled from Ngoshe and other areas were unable to proceed with the protest due to fear of confrontation.

According to him, legal steps are now being taken to formally notify relevant authorities before rescheduling the demonstration.

He further stated that a lawyer has been contacted to redraft the notification letter, which will be submitted to government security agencies before a new date is fixed.

Kaigama said the protest was organised to draw attention to worsening insecurity and repeated cases of abductions across parts of Borno State.

He alleged that about 416 people had been abducted, including 12 individuals in Biu, describing the situation as deeply distressing for affected families.

He also criticised what he described as government inaction, claiming that efforts to mediate or open dialogue on the crisis had not yielded results.

Kaigama maintained that the protest was peaceful in intent and aimed at demanding urgent answers from authorities over insecurity in the region.

He confirmed that the protest had been temporarily cancelled but insisted that organisers would reschedule after completing formal procedures.

Efforts to obtain an official response from Operation Hadin Kai spokesperson Lt. Col. Sani Uba were unsuccessful as calls placed to his phone were not answered.

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The situation reflects ongoing tension in parts of Borno State, where security concerns continue to dominate public discourse.