Protests demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), descended into chaos in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Monday, October 20.
Police fired tear gas, used water cannons, and deployed electric barriers to disperse demonstrators who had gathered across various parts of the city. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire amid clashes between protesters and security forces, while the heavy security presence disrupted traffic and stranded commuters. A journalist from Agence France-Presse (AFP) was briefly detained during the unrest and later released, though his equipment was destroyed in the process.
The protests mark the latest escalation in the ongoing agitation for the release of Kanu, whose detention has remained a flashpoint for secessionist tensions in southeastern Nigeria. Kanu, a British citizen, has faced multiple arrests since 2015 on charges of terrorism and treason. His recent bid for freedom was dismissed by a Nigerian court, which ordered him to face trial. One of his lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed via social media that he was among those arrested during Monday’s demonstrations.