Police Fire Tear Gas, Arrest Protesters At Abuja Rally Demanding Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

Security forces in Abuja on Monday fired gunshots and tear gas to disperse protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The protest, held under the hashtag #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow, coincided with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. Demonstrators had gathered at Transcorp Hilton and other locations in the Federal Capital Territory before security operatives intervened.

Police officers were seen firing tear gas canisters into the crowd to scatter protesters and bystanders. Witnesses said several people were arrested across multiple locations in Abuja.

Among those arrested were Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother, and several journalists covering the demonstration.

An AFP camera was destroyed during the chaos, and two of the international media organisation’s journalists, American reporter Nicholas Roll and John Okunyomi were reportedly harassed and detained before being released.

Ferdinand Duruoha