Security operatives from various security agencies in the country on Thursday morning barricaded the main entrance to the National Assembly complex in Abuja to prevent protesters from gaining access to the place.

The protest, organised by “Take It Back Movement” and other civil society organisations, is part of a nationwide demonstration marking June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Organisers had disclosed that the protest aims to spotlight what they called “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The organisers had moved the protest to the National Assembly, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to address a joint-session of the National Assembly as part of the Democracy Day celebrations.

Speaking on the eve of the protest, the National Coordinator of Take It Back Movement, Mr. Juwon Sanyaolu, said the decision to converge at the National Assembly did not change the focus of the protest.

“That we earlier said the protest would hold at Eagle Square doesn’t foreclose the fact that Nigerians cannot organise themselves at the National Assembly to protest the two years of misrule under Tinubu.

“The unprecedented hardship and insecurity we have experienced under his government are alarming. 

“So Nigerians will be turning out nationwide to protest against this, and the National Assembly is one of those spaces Nigerians can exercise their constitutional rights. 

“We are encouraging Nigerians to move there in their numbers tomorrow,” he said.

Getting to the venue, our correspondent observed heavy security presence, including operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security and police at the National Assembly gate.

The gate was also reinforced with iron barricades, as well as a long security truck, preventing access to the premises.

As at the time of filing this report, the atmosphere remained tense.