At least eight individuals, including Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and his relative, Fineboy Kanu, were arrested on Tuesday during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja. The demonstration, which sought the release of the detained IPOB leader, led to widespread security lockdowns across the Federal Capital Territory.
Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the arrests, saying the protesters would be arraigned after investigations. He dismissed social media claims that officers fired live bullets, clarifying that only tear gas was used in line with police standard operating procedures.
“No live ammunition was fired. People unfamiliar with the sound of tear gas launchers often mistake them for gunfire,” Hundeyin explained.
He noted that the protesters attempted to breach restricted areas near key government buildings despite a valid court order preventing such gatherings.
Security Lockdown Paralyzes Abuja
The protest, led by activist Omoyele Sowore of the #RevolutionNow movement, triggered a massive security response. By dawn, heavily armed personnel from the Police, DSS, and the Nigerian Army had sealed off major access routes to the Central Business District, including roads leading to the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court.
The lockdown caused heavy gridlock across the city. Civil servants and traders from Nyanya, Karu, and Mararaba were stranded for hours as the Keffi-Abuja Expressway and major junctions like the National Mosque and Eagle Square were barricaded.
Even Villa staff were redirected to alternate parking spaces, while stop-and-search operations intensified throughout the morning.
Teargas and Arrests
The protest began around 7 a.m. near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel but turned chaotic as police fired teargas to disperse the crowd attempting to advance toward Maitama District. Sowore was seen fleeing with his nose covered as the crowd scattered.
Ejimakor and Fineboy Kanu were among those arrested and detained at the FCT Criminal Investigation Department in Garki. Sowore later took to X (formerly Twitter), condemning the arrests as “illegal detention” and demanding the immediate release of all detainees.
He warned that if they were not freed, more protesters would “occupy” the FCT Police Command.
Nationwide Reaction and Partial Shutdown
The Abuja protest sparked ripple effects across major Nigerian cities. In Lagos, security operatives were stationed at key flashpoints including Lekki Toll Gate, Ojota, and Maryland to prevent gatherings. In the East, cities like Enugu, Aba, and Umuahia witnessed near-total shutdowns as businesses, schools, and markets remained closed in solidarity with the protesters.
In Anambra, banks operated minimally, and public transport was disrupted, while in Ondo State, businesses along major roads like Arakale and Oyemekun remained shut under heavy police presence.
Presidency, APC Condemn Protest
Presidential aides and the ruling APC strongly criticized the demonstration. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, called for disciplinary action against Ejimakor for “unethical conduct,” arguing that as a lawyer, he should not have joined a protest related to a case still in court.
Onanuga described the protest as “shambolic,” accusing Ejimakor of abandoning legal ethics for political grandstanding.
Similarly, presidential aide Sunday Dare warned that street protests could not influence judicial proceedings, stressing that justice must be pursued within the confines of the law.
The Lagos State APC and the Nigeria First Project Initiative also condemned the protests, accusing opposition parties of instigating unrest and warning that Sowore’s actions posed a “threat to national security.”
Hearing in Police Suit Stalled
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja failed to sit on the police suit seeking to restrain the protesters, as all 13 courtrooms were under lock and key. Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier scheduled a hearing for Tuesday but proceedings were halted due to the disruption in the city.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in DSS custody since his arrest and extradition to Nigeria in 2021. He is facing multiple treason charges, with his case still pending before the court.
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