Nigeria, Feb. 27 -- Tension ran high in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Tuesday morning as the police deployed officers to the streets to halt the nationwide protest called by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) over escalating economic difficulties in the country.

From the early hours of the morning, police units brandishing an array of weapons established a presence along routes leading to the NLC headquarters in New GRA, Maiduguri. This move appeared to be calculated to frustrate the protest, despite previous police assurances.

The NLC had initially received approval for a three-kilometre march from their secretariat. However, the sentiment shifted as the gathered unionists were met with a staunch police blockade, on the order of...