Police operatives on Monday dispersed demonstrators demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, after they regrouped at Utako, Abuja.
The protesters, made up of civil rights activists and members of pro-democracy groups under the banner of the #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow campaign, had earlier been dispersed with tear gas around Maitama, where they initially converged near the Transcorp Hilton.
Eyewitnesses said officers fired multiple tear gas canisters to break up the gathering, forcing protesters, passersby, and traders in the area to flee for safety. The incident caused temporary chaos and disrupted traffic along adjoining streets.
Undeterred, the protesters later regrouped at Utako, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards urging the Federal Government to comply with the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted Kanu.
However, security operatives again moved in and dispersed the demonstrators using tear gas.
In response to the protest, security was visibly tightened across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with soldiers, police officers, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) deployed to key locations, including Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the Three Arms Zone.
A heavy military presence was also observed around the Berger Roundabout, where soldiers mounted a gun truck to monitor movement in the area.
