The Nigerian police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had gathered in the capital, Abuja, over the continued detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters, led by activist and publisher of the Sahara Reporters news site, Omoyele Sowore, want the immediate release of Kanu, who is on trial on terrorism charges and heads the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob).
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, has denied the charges and also holds British nationality.
Ipob is seeking independence for what they call the Biafran nation in south-eastern Nigeria.
Eyewitnesses said police officers fired multiple rounds of tear gas at the gathering, which started as early as 07:00 (06:00 GMT). The police also blocked major roads in the capital, causing heavy gridlock and confusion across several parts of the city.
Sowore wrote on X that security operatives had arrested several individuals, including Kanu's family members and legal team. The police have not commented on the reported arrests.
Despite his conflicts with the Nigerian government, Kanu remains a cult hero among his supporters, particularly in south-eastern Nigeria.
Ipob was banned as a terrorist organization in 2017. Its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, has been accused of violence in recent years.
Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on terrorism charges, but after jumping bail in 2017, he fled the country following a military raid on his home. He was re-arrested in 2021 under controversial circumstances.
The Nigerian Supreme Court recently overturned a lower court’s decision to drop charges against him, leading to ongoing trials that have sparked heightened public interest and unrest.
As the situation develops, the calls for Kanu's release and the criticism of police action continue to echo through the streets of Abuja and beyond.
