LunagisthubTear Gas Fired at #FreeNnamdiKanu Protesters in Abuja
Security operatives in Abuja fired tear gas at protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday. The protesters, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, defied a court order and police warning, chanting slogans such as “Free Nnamdi Kanu now” and “It’s our constitutional right to protest”.
The police arrived early, firing tear gas to disperse protesters and onlookers. Operatives were positioned along major routes to Aso Rock, with heavy security presence at Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and the Three Arms Zone. Access roads to the Federal Secretariat and the Three Arms Zone were barricaded, and entry to Unity Fountain, the protest take-off point, was blocked to motorists and pedestrians.
Despite the police warning, protesters gathered near Transcorp Hilton and other areas in the Federal Capital Territory. However, the tear gas forced them to flee, with some shouting “Tear gas cannot stop us”. The security operatives’ actions have sparked controversy, with many questioning the use of force against peaceful protesters .
Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention since his re-arrest in June 2021, and his trial has been ongoing at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest is part of a broader campaign for his release, with many Nigerians calling for an end to his detention .
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