Nigeria: Abuja shut down as police fire teargas during #FreeNnamdiKanu protest

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

A planned peaceful demonstration in Abuja turned chaotic on October 20,2025, as Nigerian security forces deployed tear gas and heavy roadblocks to disperse protesters demanding the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The protest, organized under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, coincided with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement against police brutality.

Locations, including Transcorp Hilton and the Federal Secretariat, before marching toward Aso Rock. Security operatives responded with tear gas, water cannons, and armored vehicles, scattering crowds and causing panic. 

– Police blocked all major access routes to the Federal Capital Territory, leading to severe gridlock on highways such as Nyanya-Mararaba and Keffi-Abuja expressway. Commuters from outlying areas like Bwari, Dutse, and Kubwa were particularly affected. 

The Nigeria Union of Journalists condemned the assault, demanding compensation for damaged tools and accountability for officers involved. 

Police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin justified the use of tear gas, citing a court order restricting protests near sensitive areas like Aso Rock and the National Assembly. 

Amnesty International condemned the crackdown, stating that “any attempt to undermine freedom of assembly is illegal” and calling for respect for protesters’ rights. 

In Akure, Ondo State, Igbo-owned businesses shut down in solidarity, with traders closing shops along major streets to lend support to Kanu’s cause. 

The standoff highlighted the government’s heavy-handed approach to dissent and the enduring public sympathy for Nnamdi Kanu, whose detention remains a flashpoint for ethnic tensions in Nigeria.