May Day Celebration; Heavy Security at Eagle Square, Abuja

Security was considerably increased in the vicinity of the Eagle Square in Abuja on Tuesday as Nigerian workers gathered to mark this year’s May Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was however a massive turnout by workers for the event, in spite of the heavy security presence at the rally venue.
Several police and military personnel, as well as officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Fire Service and the Federal Road Safety Commission were on hand to provide security.
They took positions round the square, which is the rally’s traditional venue, with many police dogs on hand to assist them in handling crowd control.
Their presence was supported with the availability of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), ambulances and towing trucks.
NAN reports that the gates into the square, located on the Shehu Shagari Way in the city’s Central Business District, were still under lock and key to the public as at 9.45 a.m.
Hundreds of workers, clad in different uniforms, were seen along the surrounding streets waiting for the gates to be opened for the rally.
But at about 10 a.m when a gate was opened, a long queue of up to 500 metres quickly formed, with those going into the venue expected to join in a single file.
Later on, workers trooping into the venue were subjected to thorough screening by the police anti-bomb squad through a metal detector door before being allowed into the square.
Some of the workers who spoke to NAN said they were satisfied with the screening as it was meant to ensure their safety in view of the current security challenges in the country.