How Security Operatives Shut Down Abuja Over #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest,

Economic activities were yesterday grounded in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, following the protest led by Omoyele Sowore, founder of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, which is seeking the unconditional release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

As early as 6:00am, the police had already blocked all access routes leading to the FCT, causing gridlock which prevented workers from accessing their offices.

The protest, meant to be peaceful soon turned violent in the Maitama area of Abuja as the Police and other security agencies fired tear gas at protesters, who scampered in different directions.

It will be recalled that the police had on Sunday warned protesters not to go close to Aso Rock, the National Assembly complex and environs, threatening to deal with any violation.

The protesters, including Kanu’s lawyer, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, and others had gathered around the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, and headquarters in Maitama chanting “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now”.

They were also heard cautioning the Police against tear-gassing them just before sounds of gunshots were heard and they scampered to safety.

Consequently, the stampede, coupled with the closure of roads by the police, made movement within the city difficult.

Residents, who got stranded as a result of the gridlock caused by the face-off, expressed anger over the decision of security forces to mount barricades at strategic points within the city, a development which caused serious gridlock.

The gridlock was most severe for commuters from Bwari, Ushafa, Dutse and parts of Kubwa who couldn’t get to the city centre.
Vanguard gathered that motorists along the Nyanya-Mararaba road were also stranded due to the security checkpoints mounted on the road.

In the Sokale area, one of the motorists, Usman Jibrin, said he had been on one spot for over an hour.

“If people want to go to the Villa, why should it affect those of us on the outskirts? Are they (security forces) scared that people would be imported this morning (yesterday) for the protest? This is punishment and God is watching us all.’’

Because the protesters planned to march on State House, the official residence of President Bola Tinubu, the whole precincts of Aso Villa was locked down by security men.

Investigations showed heavy deployment of security forces, including soldiers, police, and hooded DSS operatives, who blocked access to the Three Arms Zone.

Stop-and-search checks were intensified, and even Villa staff with parking permits were redirected away from the complex.

Staff of State House coming from Nyanya, Maraba, Asokoro and Kubwa axis were prevented from having direct access to Villa via the fire service end but were diverted to the route from Force Headquarters, back to the fire service gate.

A Villa employee wrote on social media about the blockade: “Please can someone find out what is going on in the Villa? All access roads are blocked. Nobody is allowed in, even with tags.

“The disruption extended beyond the Villa, with the Keffi-Abuja expressway experiencing hours-long gridlock as soldiers halted traffic at the Karu Bridge before the Sani Abacha Barracks for checks as early as 4 am.

Civil servants and traders from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, and Masaka bore the brunt of the delays.
Similar tension was reported along the Dutse-Bwari and Airport Road corridors, with detours announced for travellers from the airport area towards the Central Business District.

An advisory circulated among workers read: “Good morning dear colleagues, please if you are coming from Airport Road to Central Area, follow Area 1. Security blockade from National Mosque.”

Security remained visible around routes to the Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the National Assembly to forestall any disruptions.

By this time, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s younger brother, Fineboy Kanu, and some protesters had been arrested by the police. But Sowore managed to escape.

Some journalists covering the protest, including Agence France-Presse, AFP reporter, Mr. John Okunyomih, were not only assaulted but also had their devices seized by the Police, which prompted reactions from the FCT council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

NUJ in a statement by the Secretary of the Council, Mr Jide Oyekunle, described the arrest and harassment of the journalist as “a gross violation of press freedom and an affront to democratic principles.”

It was gathered that a car belonging to another journalist with Business Day newspaper, Tony Ailemen, was damaged when a policeman directly aimed at his car and fired a tear gas canister.

“They destroyed the back windshield of my car. They fired tear gas directly at my car”, he said in a massage posted to the official NUJ platform.

On his part, Okunyomih was reportedly manhandled by armed soldiers and policemen who were deployed to disperse the protesters.

The security agents also damaged his professional camera and other equipment while he was covering the protest near the Unity Fountain.

The NUJ demanded an immediate investigation into the incident, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Dantawaye Miller, to identify and sanction the officers responsible for the assault.

“The harassment of journalists performing their legitimate duty is unacceptable. Security agents must be reminded that journalists are not enemies of the state but partners in nation-building,” the statement said.

The council further urged the authorities to replace the journalist’s damaged camera and other work tools, stressing that such compensation will serve as a deterrent against future attacks on media professionals.

The NUJ FCT Council also reiterated its call on security agencies to respect the rights of journalists to freely cover public events without intimidation, in line with constitutional guarantees and international press freedom standards.

“While we acknowledge that he has been released, we hereby demand that his camera and other gadgets that were damaged by the gun-toting armed policemen be replaced with immediate effect.

“We, therefore, call on the Inspector-General of Police to call his officers to order and be civil in dealing with journalists performing their statutory duty,” the statement read further.

Reacting to the arrest, human rights activist and leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, demanded their immediate release.

Sowore took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to condemn the action and warned the police against what he described as an “illegal detention.”

He wrote: “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!”

Also speaking on the protest, lawyer and activist, Mr Maxwell Opara, disclosed that organizers of the protests did not see or receive any court order banning the protest, as claimed by the Police.

“You (FG) are granting amnesty to terrorists and bandits, discussing and negotiating with non-state actors who have inflicted pain and destruction on the country and refuse to free Kanu,’’ he said.

Speaking at Berger Axis of Abuja during the protest, Opara, however, wondered “why the selective implementation of court orders,” noting that several court orders had ordered the release of Kanu from detention without being obeyed.

“One court judgment awarded N1 billion against the Federal Government of Nigeria for the continuous detention of Maxi Kanu,” he said.

He noted that the unseen court order the Police were claiming only said protesters should stay away from the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly.

He queried: “We have left the Secretariat and the Three Arms Zone area for them. So why are they after us?”

He confirmed that some of the protest leaders were arrested by the Police, but insisted it would not deter them from forging ahead with the protest until the Federal Government freed Nnamdi Kanu.

Justifying the use of tear gas to disperse the protesters, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said police operatives only fired tear gas at protesters who were marching toward Aso Rock.

Speaking via his X handle yesterday, the Force spokesman said the Police action was in line with a subsisting court order restricting demonstrations to certain parts of the city.

“Police tear gas protesters attempting to approach Aso Villa in clear contravention of a court order restricting protesters from the Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way.

“We are the country’s foremost law enforcement agency. We carried out our mandate. And we did not block the road but cleared it after it was blocked by the protesters. This is to enable other Nigerians easy passage to their respective destinations.’’