- The Nigeria Police Force has denied using live bullets during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja, saying only tear gas was deployed to control the crowd.
- Activist Omoyele Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, and his brother were arrested after protesters defied a court order near Aso Villa.
- Eyewitnesses and videos from the protest claimed security operatives used live rounds, sparking criticism and online outrage.
- The police said officers acted lawfully under court directives, insisting that the #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstration violated security restrictions in the capital.
Nigeria Police Force has firmly denied claims that its officers fired live bullets during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest held in Abuja, stating that only tear gas was used to disperse demonstrators who ignored a court order restricting movement around sensitive government areas.
The Monday protest, led by activist Omoyele Sowore and joined by Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, as well as Prince Emmanuel Kanu, started peacefully but turned tense when security forces intervened near Aso Villa. Witnesses said one person sustained injuries, while several protesters,including journalists from News Central TV were detained.
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Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin explained that no live ammunition was fired, adding that the sound mistaken for gunfire came from tear gas canisters. He emphasised that officers acted in compliance with a valid court order to prevent the group from advancing toward restricted areas.
However, protesters and eyewitnesses disputed the police statement, alleging that officers used live rounds to scare demonstrators. Social media videos showed people running amid thick smoke and loud explosions, drawing widespread condemnation from civil rights groups.
The protest coincided with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement, a reminder of past youth demonstrations that began peacefully but ended violently in 2020. Sowore, before his arrest, told reporters that the gathering was a call for justice and the release of Nnamdi Kanu, whom he described as a victim of political persecution.
In reaction, Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga criticised Ejimakor’s involvement, calling it inappropriate for a lawyer to join a protest while representing a client in court. But human rights attorney Inibehe Effiong countered, saying lawyers have every right to join peaceful demonstrations.
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Police authorities also condemned reported assaults on journalists by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives present during the protest and confirmed that those arrested would be charged accordingly.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since 2021 following his arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria. He faces charges of treason and terrorism, all of which he has denied
