Security operatives on Monday fired tear gas and gunshots to disperse protesters in Abuja who were demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The protest, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, went ahead despite police warnings and a court order restricting such gatherings.
According to reports, a combined team of police and military personnel arrived at the protest site around 7 a.m., taking control of key areas across the Federal Capital Territory.
The demonstrators, who had planned to march to Aso Rock Villa, chanted slogans such as “Free Nnamdi Kanu now,” “It’s our constitutional right to protest,” and “Don’t tear gas us.”
The situation escalated as security operatives fired tear gas canisters and live shots into the air, forcing protesters and bystanders to flee. Some participants defiantly shouted “Tear gas cannot stop us” while retreating.
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The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest reportedly began near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and spread to other locations in Abuja.
Heavy security presence was observed around Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and the Three Arms Zone, with all access roads to the Federal Secretariat barricaded. Entry to Unity Fountain, the protest take-off point, was completely blocked as operatives denied passage to both motorists and pedestrians.
Meanwhile, a separate incident occurred near the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in the Utako area, where a joint team of soldiers and police fired tear gas at a crowd that had gathered nearby. Though the group was not directly involved in the protest, they quickly dispersed as the operatives advanced.