Commuters desert busy Karshi-Nyanya-AYA Road in Abuja

The Karshi-Nyanya-AYA road, which is usually characterized by heavy traffic in the early hours of the day, was on Thursday deserted, as well as the adjoining bus stops, with most workers and traders staying back home over the end bad governance protest which started in the early hours of the day.

Motorists and commuters on the axis, which links the hinterlands with the ever-busy city center, deserted the road as only a handful of heavily armed police patrol vehicles were seen as the drivers crisscrossed the dual carriageway.

Earlier, the sound of sirens had rented the air, perhaps in a show of force, which put palpable fear and anxiety ahead of the planned protest, with many commuters opting to stay aloof of the ever-busy road.

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At the major military checkpoint situated in the Kugbo area along Abuja-Keffi expressway, a heavily armed lone soldier was seen checking the few vehicles on the deserted road.

At the Fire Service end, as well as Supreme Court gates of the road that leads to the Presidential Villa in Asokoro, there was a large deployment of security personnel, including soldiers, police, and DSS operatives who checked commuters and vehicles accessing the area.

This is, ostensibly, to ward off the daring protesters from infiltrating the seat of power in Abuja.