A coordinated wave of protests demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, swept across Abuja and major cities in the South-East 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, drew massive security response around key government installations, including the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and Supreme Court.
Heavy Security Lockdown in Abuja
By dawn, combined teams of soldiers, police, and DSS operatives had barricaded access roads leading to the Three Arms Zone, intensifying stop-and-search operations and restricting movement. Federal civil servants were temporarily denied access to ministries, as armoured personnel carriers and Hilux patrol vans lined Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, and adjoining routes.
“We were given strict orders not to allow anyone without clearance near the Villa,” a security operative told reporters.
The lockdown triggered hours-long traffic gridlock for commuters from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, Masaka, and the Airport Road axis, with advisories urging civil servants to find alternative routes.
Protesters, led by Sowore, had earlier converged at the Unity Fountain, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards demanding Kanu’s release. But police fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd after they attempted to advance toward restricted areas.
Police Defend Crackdown
The Nigeria Police Force defended its actions, citing a court order obtained on Friday restricting demonstrations near sensitive national institutions.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said officers acted lawfully and used “minimal force.”
“We got a court order specifically restricting protests from certain areas like the Villa, Supreme Court, and National Assembly. We are duty-bound to enforce that order,” Hundeyin explained on Channels TV.
He denied reports that live ammunition was used, insisting that only tear gas was deployed.
NSCDC Condemns Protest
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also condemned a protest at its headquarters in Abuja, describing it as an “anti-government demonstration disguised as a campaign for justice.”
Spokesperson Afolabi Babawale said over 50 individuals gathered at the NSCDC premises chanting protest songs. He reiterated that while peaceful assembly is constitutional, it must remain lawful and within judicial limits.
South-East Shuts Down in Solidarity
Across Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo States, major cities were completely shut down as residents observed a de facto sit-at-home in solidarity with the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest.
In Umuahia and Aba, markets, schools, and banks were locked, while groups of supporters sang freedom songs and called for dialogue. Igbo socio-cultural leaders, including James Uchegbuo of the Igbo Vanguard Group and Moses Onyegbule of the Igbo Ekene Global Development Union, appealed to the Federal Government to embrace peace and justice.
In Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka, all major markets—including the Onitsha Main Market and Nkwo Nnewi—remained closed. “We stayed indoors in solidarity. The people want Kanu freed,” a trader told The PUNCH.
Security was heightened across the region, with police patrols visible in Nkpor, Oyeagu, and other flashpoints.
Quiet Solidarity in Ondo
Even in Akure, Ondo State, where many Igbo traders reside, several shops remained closed in solidarity. “If we can’t join them in Abuja, we can show support from here,” one trader, Nkechi, said.
Nnamdi Kanu, arrested and extradited from Kenya in June 2021, remains in DSS custody despite multiple court rulings ordering his release. His supporters have repeatedly raised concerns about his deteriorating health.
The Federal Government maintains that Kanu faces serious charges, including treasonable felony and terrorism, while activists like Sowore accuse the government of disregarding the rule of law.
Monday’s coordinated protests mark one of the most significant public demonstrations in recent months, reviving the debate over justice, national unity, and the limits of state power in Nigeria’s democracy.
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