(Abuja, Nigeria) – A peaceful protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was violently disrupted on Tuesday after a joint team of Nigerian security operatives fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The protest, organized under the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement and led by prominent activist Omoyele Sowore, had gathered near the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) headquarters in the high-security Maitama area of Abuja.
Eyewitnesses report that the demonstrators, which also included Kanu’s lead counsel, Barr. Aloy Ejimakor, were chanting “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now” when the situation escalated. Videos from the scene captured protesters cautioning the police against the use of tear gas moments before the sounds of gunshots rang out, causing the assembly to scatter for safety.
The security detachment, comprising police and military personnel, moved in forcefully to break up the gathering. The precise number of casualties, if any, remains unconfirmed as of the time of this report.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions surrounding the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, who is being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges of treasonable felony and terrorism. His supporters and legal team have consistently argued for his release, citing rulings from Nigerian courts and a United Nations opinion that deemed his detention arbitrary and illegal.
The protest in the nation’s capital underscores the deepening national crisis and the government’s hardline stance against dissent related to the Biafran agitation. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident
