Eight Arrested, Kanu’s Lawyer, Relative at #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest in Abuja

By: Aremu Toyeebaht

Eight persons, including Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and his relative, Fineboy Kanu have been arrested in a fresh protest demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday.

The demonstration, organized under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, was led by human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, who joined protesters marching through parts of Maitama and the Central Business District (CBD) before security operatives dispersed them.

Confirming the arrests, FCT Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the protesters were taken into custody and would be arraigned in court. He also dismissed reports that live ammunition was used to disperse the crowd.

“I can state categorically, authoritatively, that no live ammunition was fired. It’s very easy for people unfamiliar with the sounds to mistake the firing of tear gas for live ammunition,” Hundeyin said.

He explained that police officers only deployed teargas in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) after some protesters attempted to breach a court-restricted area.

The protest triggered heightened security measures around strategic government areas, including the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and Supreme Court. Combined security teams of the Army, Police, and DSS mounted roadblocks and checkpoints before dawn, causing major gridlocks that stranded thousands of commuters.

Civil servants, traders, and motorists coming from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, and Masaka were trapped for hours in long queues, while others diverted to alternative routes.

A message circulated among workers read:

“Good morning dear colleagues, please if you are coming from Airport Road to Central Area, follow Area 1. Security blocked from National Mosque.”

Access roads leading to Eagle Square, Federal Secretariat, and the National Assembly complex were also sealed off, with even government staff possessing valid Villa passes redirected to distant parking areas.

The demonstration began around 7 a.m. at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, but police fired teargas canisters as the march advanced towards Maitama District, forcing Sowore and others to retreat.

Eyewitnesses said Ejimakor, Fineboy Kanu, and six other demonstrators were arrested and detained at the FCT Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Garki.

Despite the clampdown, protesters regrouped at Berger Junction and later Utako, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards that read “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now.”

Reacting to the arrests, Sowore took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn what he called “illegal detention”, warning that the movement could escalate if the detainees were not freed.

“The @FCT_PoliceNG is instructed to release Barrister @AloyEjimakor, Fineboy Kanu, and others illegally arrested, tortured, and currently being forced into detention over #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest immediately, or we will mobilize the entire crew now on the street to the FCT command and occupy their office,” Sowore wrote.

In a separate post, Ejimakor accused police operatives of assaulting protesters before taking them into custody.