“Streets Over Silence: Sowore and Labour Leader Take Abuja Walk Against Rising Insecurity”

Prominent activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on Monday joined the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a public street protest across parts of Abuja, drawing attention to what they described as the worsening state of insecurity in the country.

Unlike routine demonstrations marked by fiery speeches and placards-heavy rallies, the protest unfolded as a calm but deliberate walk through selected areas of the Federal Capital Territory. Participants said the approach was intentional—meant to symbolize the everyday vulnerability of ordinary Nigerians who now live with fear as a constant companion.

Speaking during the walk, Sowore criticized what he called the growing gap between official assurances and the lived reality of citizens. According to him, insecurity has moved beyond distant rural communities and now threatens urban centers, including the nation’s capital, where residents increasingly report cases of kidnapping, robbery, and violent attacks.

The NLC President, who walked alongside Sowore and other participants, framed the protest as a labour and human security issue. He noted that workers across the country are affected not only economically but physically, as commuting to work and returning home safely can no longer be taken for granted. He stressed that no meaningful productivity or national development can occur in an atmosphere of fear.

Protesters carried handwritten messages and engaged passersby in brief conversations rather than chants, urging citizens to see insecurity as a shared national emergency rather than a political talking point. Some motorists slowed down to observe, while others offered gestures of support as the group moved steadily through the streets.

Security personnel were present at a distance, monitoring the procession without direct interference. The protest remained peaceful throughout, with organizers emphasizing that their goal was visibility and awareness, not confrontation.

Participants also called on the federal government to move beyond policy statements and invest in practical, people-centered security measures. These, they argued, include intelligence-driven policing, improved welfare for security operatives, and accountability at all levels of governance.