Police Deploy Tear Gas, Block Roads in Abuja
According to Reuters, Nigerian police deployed tear gas and blocked major roads in Abuja on Monday in an attempt to suppress the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed IPOB movement. Security agents patrolled with water cannons and armored vehicles as demonstrators gathered near key locations.
Journalists Arrested While Covering the Protest
TheCable reports that two journalists with Agence France-Presse (AFP) — Nicholas Roll (American) and John Okunyomih (Nigerian videographer) — were arrested while filming the protest near the Transcorp Hilton in Maitama. Their camera and phones were reportedly seized. Roll has been released, while Okunyomih was taken to the FCT Command Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and later freed.
Protesters Say Live Rounds Fired, Kanu’s Lawyer and Brother Arrested
Channel TV cites that security operatives fired live bullets and tear gas at protesters at the Transcorp Hilton. According to the report, Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, were arrested and allegedly beaten before being taken to the FCT Command.
Tear Gas Spreads Into Nearby Areas, Affecting Bystanders and Traders
The Guardian reports that after the protest was blocked from reaching the Villa, security forces fired tear gas canisters into adjacent plazas and offices. Traders, commuters, and bystanders in affected areas were forced to flee as the gas infiltrated non-protest zones.
Defiance Amid Clampdown, Protest Persists
Despite the heavy security presence, protesters led by Omoyele Sowore continued to voice calls for Kanu’s freedom. Daily Trust notes that security agencies have barricaded routes to Aso Rock, the National Assembly, and other strategic zones, but demonstrators vowed to press on, daring police to arrest them.
