Tension gripped parts of Abuja on Monday as policemen deployed to stop the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest allegedly arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor.

The convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, made the disclosure in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, accusing the police of brutality and unlawful detention.

According to Sowore, officers “arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, his lawyer, and innocent bystanders. They were beaten and taken to the FCT command. The police must release them immediately!”

The Guardian earlier reported that security operatives had fired live bullets and several teargas canisters to disperse protesters demanding the release of Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The protest, which started peacefully, turned chaotic as commuters around the Central Business District scampered for safety. Panic spread as major roads were barricaded, causing gridlock and confusion in the city centre.

Ahead of the demonstration, the Nigeria Police Force had warned that certain parts of the capital remained “no-protest zones” based on a subsisting court order.

Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said a Federal High Court in Abuja had barred groups from holding demonstrations near sensitive government buildings, including Aso Rock, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.

Hundeyin urged all parties—both supporters and opponents of Kanu’s continued detention—to obey the directive.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021 following his re-arrest abroad, is facing terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Despite his prolonged detention, Sowore and other activists have vowed to continue their calls for his unconditional release.