Web ManagerA wave of coordinated protests demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, swept through Abuja and several South-East states on Monday, crippling commercial activities and grounding transportation networks.
The demonstration, convened by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, triggered massive security deployments across key government installations in the Federal Capital Territory, including the Three Arms Zone, which houses the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and Supreme Court.
In Abuja, dozens of protesters were forcefully dispersed by security operatives as they attempted to march toward the Presidential Villa. Roads leading to the area were barricaded, causing hours-long gridlock that left civil servants and commuters stranded.
By 6am, combined teams of soldiers, police officers, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had sealed off major routes and intensified stop-and-search operations. Even senior civil servants with official Villa tags were reportedly turned back at checkpoints.
At the Villa and surrounding districts, armoured vehicles and anti-riot police vans were stationed to prevent access. One security official told reporters that strict orders had been issued to restrict movement near the area.
The protests, which spread to major cities in the South-East, came amid renewed calls for the Federal Government to comply with court orders granting Kanu bail. The IPOB leader, who was arrested and extradited from Kenya in June 2021, has remained in DSS custody despite several rulings ordering his release.
Sowore, who had mobilised supporters through social media, described the protests as a peaceful exercise aimed at drawing attention to what he called the government’s “blatant disregard for the rule of law.”
At the Unity Fountain in Abuja, protesters carrying placards demanding Kanu’s release were met with tear gas as police moved to enforce a court order restricting the demonstration from entering key areas of the capital.
Police Defend Dispersal
The Nigeria Police Force defended its use of tear gas, insisting that officers acted lawfully and within the confines of a valid Federal High Court order obtained on Friday.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said on Channels Television that the order prohibited protests around sensitive locations, including the Villa, Supreme Court, National Assembly, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
“As a law enforcement agency, we are duty-bound to enforce that order,” Hundeyin said, explaining that intelligence reports suggested possible unrest if protesters breached restricted zones.
He denied reports that live ammunition was fired, stressing that only “minimal force” and tear gas were used to maintain order. “Nobody was harmed or injured,” he said.
NSCDC Condemns Protest
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) described the protest as “anti-government” and condemned the early-morning attempt by demonstrators to converge on its Abuja headquarters.
In a statement, NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale said over 50 individuals stormed the entrance of the headquarters, chanting protest songs. He warned that those found culpable would face prosecution, noting that the corps had already deployed personnel nationwide to protect critical assets.
Protests Paralyse South-East Cities
The protests triggered total lockdowns across cities in Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo states, as markets, banks, schools, and businesses shut down in solidarity.
In Umuahia and Aba, members of pro-Biafra groups were seen singing freedom songs and calling for Kanu’s release. Prominent Igbo leaders, including the President General of the Igbo Vanguard Group, James Uchegbuo, and Igbo Ekene Global Development Union leader, Moses Onyegbule, appealed for dialogue, describing Kanu’s release as vital to peace and reconciliation.
In Anambra State, the usual Monday sit-at-home resurfaced as residents stayed indoors. Major markets in Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka were deserted, while roads and petrol stations remained closed.
A trader in Onitsha told reporters, “We did not open in solidarity with the Free Kanu protest. Everyone stayed home for fear of attack, and the whole city is deserted.”
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed heightened security patrols but said residents had largely embraced peaceful engagement.
In Ebonyi State, economic activities were paralysed as markets, banks, and public offices remained closed. Roads were empty, and only a handful of motorcyclists operated in the state capital.
Even outside the South-East, solidarity was observed in Akure, Ondo State, where many Igbo traders shut their shops. A trader, Nkechi, said, “If we can’t join them in Abuja, at least we can show solidarity from here. Tinubu should release him. It’s unfair to keep him in detention for this long.”
Despite the widespread disruption, the protests were largely peaceful across all regions, though security agencies maintained heavy presence to prevent escalation.
