ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens of demonstrators in Nigeria’s capital on Monday as protesters gathered to demand the release of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, whose prolonged detention has intensified political tensions in the country’s southeast.
The demonstrations, organized under the hashtag #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow, drew civil rights activists, pro-democracy groups and supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which advocates for independence for Nigeria’s southeastern region. Protesters were initially dispersed near the Maitama district after police fired multiple tear gas canisters, forcing many to flee in panic through nearby streets around the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Despite the initial crackdown, protesters regrouped in the Utako area of Abuja, where they resumed chanting solidarity songs and waving banners demanding the government obey a 2022 Court of Appeal ruling that discharged and acquitted Kanu. Security forces responded again, using tear gas to break up the crowd for a second time.
Witnesses and journalists reported hearing gunfire during isolated clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Authorities also briefly detained a journalist from Agence France-Presse (AFP), who was later released.
Police deployed heavily across the Federal Capital Territory, with soldiers, officers, and operatives of the Department of State Services stationed at key locations including Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the Three Arms Zone. At Berger roundabout, witnesses saw a large number of soldiers and a gun truck positioned to deter further gatherings.
Security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and electric barriers to disperse protesters along major roads in central Abuja, disrupting traffic and stranding commuters. The confrontations underscore the ongoing sensitivity around Kanu’s detention, which remains a flashpoint in Nigeria’s southeast. Many members of the Igbo ethnic group say they face systemic marginalization by the federal government.
Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has been held in Nigerian custody since his arrest in 2021 despite court rulings ordering his release. His detention continues to stir secessionist sentiment in the southeast and has led to repeated street protests across the country.
saharareporters/AP/Punchng
