Tension heightened in parts of Abuja on Monday as police officers deployed to suppress the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest reportedly apprehended Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and his legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.
The convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, revealed this in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, alleging police brutality and unlawful detention.
According to Sowore, officers “arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, his lawyer, and innocent bystanders. They were beaten and taken to the FCT command. The police must release them immediately!”
Earlier, The Guardian reported that security personnel fired live rounds and multiple teargas canisters to disperse demonstrators demanding the release of Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
What began as a peaceful protest soon escalated, leaving commuters in the Central Business District scrambling for safety. Major roads were blocked, resulting in heavy traffic and widespread confusion within the city centre.
Ahead of the demonstration, the Nigeria Police Force had reiterated that certain areas of the capital remained “no-protest zones” in line with an existing court order.
Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin stated that a Federal High Court in Abuja had prohibited gatherings near key government locations, including Aso Rock, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
He called on all stakeholders—both advocates and critics of Kanu’s continued detention—to comply with the directive.
Kanu, who has been held by the Department of State Services since June 2021 following his re-arrest abroad, is currently facing terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Despite his continued detention, Sowore and other activists have maintained their demand for his unconditional release.