By Kabiru Abdulrauf
What began as a peaceful march on Monday turned chaotic as police fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
Among those forced to flee was activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who narrowly escaped after security operatives stormed the protest ground with guns and canisters of tear gas.
Eyewitnesses said the protest, which started near Transcorp Hilton Hotel and was meant to be a peaceful demonstration quickly descended into confusion as heavily armed officers arrived in at least 10 trucks.
Sowore, who led the protesters under the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow banner, told newsmen that the security forces opened fire without provocation.
“We had just begun our peaceful protest when they came shooting tear gas, and even live bullets,” Sowore recounted. “We told them we were not their enemies, but suddenly they attacked. I was lucky to get away before they closed in.”
Videos from the scene show protesters chanting, “It’s our constitutional right to protest!” and “Don’t tear gas us!” as they scattered in panic. Some shouted “Tear gas cannot stop us!” even as smoke filled the air.
By mid-morning, security operatives had sealed off major access points to Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and the Three Arms Zone, leaving parts of the city centre under partial lockdown.
Police also barricaded entry to Unity Fountain, the planned take-off point for the protest, denying access to both motorists and pedestrians. A combined team of police, soldiers, and civil defence officers patrolled the area, firing repeatedly into the air to disperse remaining demonstrators.
Reports indicated that several people, including Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and lawyer were arrested and beaten before being taken to the FCT Command.
The protest went ahead despite a Federal High Court injunction obtained by the police, barring all demonstrations around sensitive zones in the capital, including the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, and Force Headquarters.
Police had warned that defying the order would attract arrests, while also threatening to track digital evidence of online mobilisation.
But Sowore dismissed the order as illegal and politically motivated.
The protest coincided with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement, another historic demonstration that ended in bloodshed. For many Nigerians, the violent police response on Monday rekindled memories of those dark days.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since his controversial re-arrest in Kenya in 2021. He faces terrorism charges after his no-case submission was dismissed by the court.
