Security tensions rose across parts of Abuja on Wednesday as police fired tear gas to break up a rally calling for the release of separatist figure Nnamdi Kanu.
The demonstration — referred to by participants as the Nnamdi Kanu Protest in Abuja — was reportedly coordinated by human rights activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
Protesters converged near the city center to press for Kanu’s immediate release, arguing that his prolonged detention is unjust.
Eyewitnesses said groups began assembling as early as 7 a.m. before police moved in to disperse them. Officers deployed several rounds of tear gas, forcing demonstrators to scatter while motorists encountered heavy traffic on adjoining roads.
Sowore, in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), alleged that several protesters were taken into custody, among them some members of Kanu’s family and legal advisers. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Police Force had not issued an official response regarding those claims.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has remained in detention since 2021. The Nigerian government outlawed IPOB in 2017, labeling it a terrorist organization. The movement advocates for an independent Biafran state in the country’s southeast.
Despite multiple court proceedings, Kanu continues to command a loyal following across the region, with his case attracting both domestic and international attention.
He was first detained in 2015 on related charges but fled Nigeria after a military operation at his residence in 2017. Authorities rearrested him in 2021 — reportedly in Kenya — and extradited him to face trial.
Although the Court of Appeal dismissed the charges in 2022, the Supreme Court later overturned that ruling, allowing the federal government to continue prosecution.
Kanu’s defense team is expected to appear in court on Thursday after judges rejected their argument that there was no case to answer. Supporters of the Abuja protest say they intend to maintain peaceful demonstrations until he is released from custody.
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