Tension gripped the nation’s capital on Monday as human rights activist Omoyele Sowore accused security operatives of firing live ammunition and tear gas at peaceful protesters during the #FreeNnamdiKanu rally.
Sowore condemned what he described as an “unprovoked attack” by combined forces of the police, army, and civil defence, alleging that the security personnel opened fire shortly after the protest began.
The activist confirmed that Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and his lawyer were among those beaten and arrested before being taken to the Nigeria Police FCT Command.
Eyewitnesses said the protest quickly descended into chaos as armed security forces advanced on the demonstrators, dispersing them with tear gas and gunfire. Protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now!” and “It’s Our Constitutional Right to Protest!”
Despite a court order restraining protests around sensitive areas—including Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Police Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way—Sowore and his supporters defied the injunction, insisting it was unconstitutional.
Security forces barricaded routes leading to Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and the Three Arms Zone, blocking access to the protest grounds. The Unity Fountain, the protest’s take-off point, was sealed off, while motorists and pedestrians were denied entry.
Elsewhere in Abuja, security operatives reportedly fired tear gas near the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in the Utako area, dispersing bystanders who were not part of the demonstration.
The #FreeNnamdiKanu protest coincided with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement, an annual day of remembrance for victims of police brutality.
The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has remained in custody since his re-arrest in Kenya in 2021 and extradition to Nigeria. His prolonged detention and ongoing terrorism trial have continued to stir debate over due process and human rights in Nigeria.
Kanu’s legal team recently raised alarm over his deteriorating health, demanding his transfer to the National Hospital Abuja for urgent medical care. Leaders and civic groups across the Southeast have renewed calls for his immediate release as a step toward restoring peace in the region.
Sowore described Kanu’s detention as “a sham designed to obstruct justice,” urging the Federal Government to present its evidence in court or release him unconditionally.
