#FreeNnamdiKanuNow: Sowore, other protesters flee as security operatives fire shots, tear gas

Security Forces in the early hours of Monday temporarily locked down the Three Arm Zones housing the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, the Court of Appeal/Supreme Court, the National Assembly, the popular Eagle Square and the Federal Secretariat ahead of the planned protest, tagged: #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.

The protest was planned to take off from the Transcorp Hilton area and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but the police moved in early, firing multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse participants and passersby.

In a viral video, Omoyele Sowore, one the chief organizers, could be seen running for his life, alongside other protesters.

The demonstrators, made up of civil rights activists and members of pro-democracy groups, were part of the Release Nnamdi Kanu Now campaign aimed at pressuring the Federal Government to comply with the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted Kanu.

The protest was aimed at getting the attention of President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu unconditionally, who is currently detained by the Department of State Services on the orders of the Nigerian government.

The operatives, who had cordoned off the hotel and adjoining streets, began firing tear gas even before protesters arrived in large numbers.

The incident took place in Maitama area of the FCT, the protesters then went to Berger, under the bridge, where they were dispersed too, before they moved to Apo mechanic site only to meet the same fate.

Many commuters were turned back by the security operatives who cordoned all link roads to the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to prevent any protest and the Three Arm Zone, to prevent breakdown of law and order.

At the National Assembly Complex, the entire complex was deserted by the Staff members and others due to the blockage of the access routes were normal activities were also paralyzed at both the  Court of Appeal and the  Supreme Court.

A Senior Police officer told our reporter in confidence that the operatives action followed a court order banning any form of protest around the Three Arms Zone made up of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature and nothing else

Commuters comprising of innocent workers, who moved to Central Business District to gain access to their offices were mistakenly attacked by security operatives.

A roadside trader, who gave her name simply as Adah, told the Nigerian Tribune that: “They closed the road and we had to come and sell here, officers came and fired tear gas on all us even innocent workers that were here with us, some were fainting and when the realised that they were workers, they started taking them to the hospital.”

Speaking on his encounter with security operatives, Sowore said: “They didn’t particularly have any leadership; there were about 10 trucks that arrived at the same time as soon as we started the protest and people were coming around.

“There was no provocation on our part; it was orderly and peaceful; it was an unprovoked attack from the police force and a combined team of security people.”

Sowore in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore alleged that policemen arrested Kanu’s brother, Ejimakor, and other bystanders.

“The @PoliceNG team deployed to brutalize #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, and his lawyer, @AloyEjimakor, as well as innocent bystanders. They were beaten and taken to the FCT command. The police must release them immediately!,” he wrote.

Confirming the arrest Aloy Ejimakor posted thus on X handle, “we’ve just been arrested. Myself, Prince Emanuel and others. We are at FCT COMMAND CID. Myself, Fine Boy and others. No 1 Zaria Steeet, Garki 2, Abuja,”

In a related development, stakeholders antagonizing the protest have been mocking the activist for taking cover during the shooting, but Shehu Sani, one of those campaigning for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, in a Facebook post, said it was a wise decision, stressing that it was not an act of cowardice.

He wrote, “Running away during protest is not an act of cowardice. It’s a strategy to dodge the bullet or the tear gas in order to fight another day.

“Facing an armed Police man on the 20th day of the month after his last salary requires some form of caution. Comrade Sowore is bravely wise.”

The Spokesperson of the FCT Command SP Josephine Adeh could not be immediately reached for the confirmation of the arrest but an officer familiar with the arrest confirmed the story, saying that they were being questioned for unlawful gathering.

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