Abuja protesters force Osinbajo to alight from his vehicle and agreed to look into their grievances

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo was forced to come out of his car and address irate protesters near Abuja this morning after they blocked his motorcade to protest the recent taking over of their land by the Nigerian military.

This morning, hundreds of local people barricaded the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway near Abuja at Goza village, as Professor Osinbajo's convoy was driving past. Gbagyi village residents had gathered on the major road connecting the airport to the city to protest the alleged invasion of their land by the military.

Despite numerous pleas, Professor Osinbajo’s security aides could not appease the protesters, forcing the vice president to step out of his car. After listening to their grievances, Professor Osinbajo promised to hold a meeting with the leaders of the villagers, where an amicable settlement to the problem would be found.

Laolu Akande, Professor Osinbajo's spokesman, said: "On his way to the airport just now, voce president Osinbajo runs into a group of Federal Capital Territory residents protesting an alleged land takeover bid by the military. He subsequently got down, engaged the people, proposed to meet with their leaders on the matter and  intervene with a view to finding an amicable solution.”