Security operatives in Abuja on Monday fired teargas at a growing crowd of protesters who had converged on the Unity Fountain, near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
As early as 6:30 a.m., protesters — including clerics, civil rights activists, and supporters — began gathering at the venue despite police warnings against the demonstration.
Witnesses said the protesters had not engaged in any violence or chant when armed police operatives began firing teargas canisters to disperse them.
A human rights lawyer and counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, who was among the early arrivals, confirmed the development in a video posted online.
“I’m in front of the Transcorp Hilton with a mammoth crowd that gathered for #MNKOct20 and the police just exploded teargas. My eyes and throat hurt. They’re scattering everywhere,” Ejimakor posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier placed their operatives on high alert to prevent any march towards the Presidential Villa at Aso Rock.
Ejimakor, however, vowed that the protest would continue despite the heavy security presence, saying, “We are waiting for our leader, Sowore.”
Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is among the leading figures in the protest. The demonstrators are calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 despite multiple court orders granting him bail.
As of the time of filing this report, tension remains high in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Security has been tightened around strategic locations, with armed operatives stationed at major entry and exit points.
Vehicular movement in and out of Abuja has become heavily restricted, causing severe traffic gridlock and leaving many motorists, workers, and students stranded.
The protest comes amid renewed calls from civil society groups and political leaders for the federal government to comply with court rulings ordering Kanu’s release and to open dialogue on the lingering issues surrounding the IPOB movement.
