Nigeria Police Issue Directives Ahead of #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a directive to its operatives nationwide to monitor and resist protests planned for Monday, October 20, 2025. The protests, organized under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, aim to demand the unconditional release of detained Biafran leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Police Directive
In a wireless message circulated to zonal and command levels nationwide, the police warned of “unscrupulous elements” finalizing plans to stage protests in the Federal Capital Territory, which may spread to other states. The directive instructs commanders to:
– Deploy covert personnel: For intelligence gathering and sharing
-Keep tactical units on standby: In full kit, ready to respond to any situation
-Confine officers to barracks:

Where necessary, to maintain order and prevent breakdown of law and order
Provide hourly situation reports: To ensure situational awareness and prompt response

The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest is organized by human rights activists, lawyers, and pro-Biafran groups, who are demanding Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release. Kanu has been in detention since his re-arrest in 2021, despite several court rulings ordering his release. The protest is scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Federal High Court in Abuja recently rejected police applications seeking to stop the demonstration, fueling both mobilization and official concern. Organizers, including Omoyele Sowore, have vowed to proceed with the protest, citing the people’s right to peaceful assembly and expression.

The situation is tense, with the police determined to maintain law and order, while protesters are resolute in their demands for Kanu’s release. The outcome of the protest remains uncertain, as both sides prepare for Monday’s events