There was tension in the Central Business District of Abuja early Monday as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force fired teargas canisters at unsuspecting commuters.
The development followed reports that activists had begun converging at strategic points within the city for the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.
Eyewitnesses said many of the affected commuters were waiting by the roadside to board vehicles to their workplaces when officers of the police descended on the area, releasing multiple rounds of teargas without warning.
The protest, convened by Sahara Reporters publisher and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, was announced days earlier as part of a nationwide demonstration calling for the immediate release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Security agencies, anticipating large turnouts, had since the early hours of the morning mounted blockades along major roads, including routes leading into the Central Business District. The heavy presence of armed personnel caused significant traffic congestion and confusion among residents trying to access offices in the area.
In a post on social media platform X, Sowore alleged that security operatives had gone beyond crowd control measures to make targeted arrests.
“The @PoliceNG team deployed to brutalize #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, and his lawyer, @AloyEjimakor, as well as innocent bystanders. They were beaten and taken to the FCT command. The police must release them immediately!”
At the time of filing this report, neither the police nor the Federal Capital Territory Command had issued an official statement regarding the incident or confirmed the number of arrests made.
Commuters who were caught in the chaos said many had to abandon bus stops and flee into nearby buildings to escape the teargas fumes, which lingered for several minutes.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest is the latest in a series of agitations demanding the release of the IPOB leader, whose continued detention despite multiple court rulings has drawn both local and international criticism.
Security presence across the city remained heavy as of 8:30 a.m., with joint patrols seen around the Federal Secretariat, Eagle Square, and Area 1. Movement into some parts of the city centre was still restricted, while the atmosphere remained tense.
More to come…
