A coordinated wave of protests demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), swept through Abuja and several South-East states on Monday, paralysing business activities and grounding transportation.
The demonstration, organised by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, drew massive crowds and prompted heavy security deployment around key government areas in the Federal Capital Territory, including the Three Arms Zone, which houses the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court.
Abuja on Lockdown
In Abuja, protesters converged at the Unity Fountain early in the morning, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards demanding Kanu’s immediate release. Security operatives, however, fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd as they attempted to march toward restricted areas.
Dozens of demonstrators, including Sowore and other activists, regrouped around the Utako axis, but were again dispersed by anti-riot police. The situation caused heavy gridlock across the city, especially along the Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu, and Airport Road corridors, leaving many commuters stranded.
By 6 a.m., combined teams of soldiers, police officers, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had sealed off major routes to the Three Arms Zone. Armoured vehicles and patrol vans were stationed around the Aso Villa and surrounding districts, while civil servants were briefly denied entry into key ministries.
A security officer stationed near the Villa told The PUNCH that the heightened security was to prevent any breach of peace. “It’s because of the protest. We were instructed not to allow anyone without clearance to pass,” he said.
Police Defend Tear Gas Use
Reacting to the incident, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the police action, saying officers acted in accordance with a valid court order obtained last Friday restricting the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest from accessing sensitive areas.
“We got a court order restricting protests from the Aso Villa, the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, Eagle Square, and Shagari Way. As law enforcement officers, we are duty-bound to enforce that order,” Hundeyin said on Channels Television.
He explained that intelligence reports suggested the protest could spiral into unrest if allowed near the restricted zones, adding that officers used only “minimal force” to prevent escalation.
“No live ammunition was fired. Only tear gas was used to disperse those attempting to breach the restricted areas,” he said.
NSCDC Condemns Protest
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also criticised an early morning demonstration at its Abuja headquarters, describing it as an “anti-government protest disguised as a campaign for justice.”
NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale said over 50 individuals gathered at the Corps’ entrance, chanting solidarity songs. He noted that the Corps had already issued directives to boost surveillance and protect national infrastructure ahead of the protest.
Babawale reiterated that while peaceful assembly is a constitutional right, it must be conducted lawfully. He warned that “culpable suspects arrested would face the full wrath of the law.”
South-East in Total Shutdown
In the South-East, cities including Onitsha, Enugu, Aba, and Owerri witnessed total lockdowns, with markets, schools, and banks shut in solidarity with the detained IPOB leader.
In Abia State, residents in Umuahia and Aba observed a sit-at-home as protesters sang freedom songs and called for Kanu’s release. Igbo leaders, including James Uchegbuo of the Igbo Vanguard Group and Moses Onyegbule of the Igbo Ekene Global Development Union, urged the Federal Government to release Kanu through dialogue, saying peace and justice were vital for national unity.
In Anambra State, residents reenacted the Monday sit-at-home despite its cancellation by IPOB in 2021. Most streets and markets in Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka were deserted, with traders citing fear of attacks and solidarity as reasons for staying indoors.
A trader in Onitsha said, “We didn’t open the markets today in solidarity with the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest. Everyone stayed home to avoid trouble.”
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, commended residents for maintaining peace, assuring that the command had deployed adequate security to prevent unrest.
In Ebonyi State, commercial activities were also suspended as shops, banks, and markets remained closed. Although there were no street protests, residents stayed indoors, while security patrols were intensified across major roads.
Solidarity Beyond the South-East
In Ondo State, Igbo traders in Akure joined the protest symbolically by closing their shops along major streets such as Oyemekun, Adesida, and Arakale Roads.
One trader, Nkechi, said, “We refused to open shop today to show solidarity. If we can’t join them in Abuja, we can at least support from here. They should release Nnamdi Kanu. It’s unfair to keep him this long.”
Security presence was also heightened around major commercial areas in the Akure metropolis to prevent unrest.
Background
Kanu was arrested and extradited from Kenya in June 2021 and has since remained in DSS custody despite multiple court orders granting him bail. His supporters have repeatedly raised concerns over his health, demanding his release for medical treatment.
The Federal Government maintains that he faces charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, while activists like Sowore insist his prolonged detention represents a “blatant disregard for the rule of law.”
