03 Jul 2018 | 02:42 PM UTC
Nigeria: Demonstration planned in Abuja July 4
Civil society groups plan to hold a demonstration in Abuja on July 4; heightened security measures and traffic disruptions expected
Event
Various civil society groups are planning to stage a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, July 4. The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 09:00 (local time) at the Unity Fountain. Participants will then march to the presidential villa. It is unclear how many people will attend the rally as of Tuesday, July 3. While the protest is expected to remain peaceful, traffic disruptions are expected along the march route.
Context
The groups are calling for the government to do more to protect Nigerians from violence and insecurity. A similar demonstration was held in Abuja on June 30 and was carried out peacefully. Civil society groups also held a protest in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, on June 27 to protest recent violence in the state. Local clan leaders claim that as many as 200 people were killed in interethnic clashes on June 23.
Advice
Individuals in Abuja are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution and to allow additional time to travel.
On a more general note, the security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, and Kano states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). It is also advisable to avoid nonessential travel to Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna states. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.
