Nigerian police use tear gas against protesters in Abuja

Nigerian police used tear gas to disperse protesters gathered in the capital Abuja over the continued detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.

The protesters, led by activist and publisher of news site Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, are demanding 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 custody since 2021, has denied the charges. He also has British citizenship.

Ipob is seeking independence for what they call the Biafran nation in southeastern Nigeria.

Witnesses said police officers fired several rounds of tear gas at people who had started gathering as early as 07:00 (0600 GMT).

Police also blocked major roads in the capital, causing heavy traffic and confusion in several parts of the city.

Sowore wrote to X that security operatives had arrested several individuals, including Kanu’s family members and the legal team.

The police did not comment on the information about the arrests.

Despite his many battles with the Nigerian government, Kanu remains a cult hero to his many followers, especially in southeastern Nigeria.

Ipob was banned as a terrorist organization in 2017. Its armed wing – the Eastern Security Network – has been accused of killings and other acts of violence in recent years.

Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on terrorism charges, but he refused bail in 2017 and left the country after a military raid on his home. The court later revoked his bail in March 2019 and ordered his re-arrest.

Two years later, the Nigerian government announced his re-arrest. His lawyers say he was detained in Kenya, which has not commented on whether it played a role in his deportation to Nigeria.

In 2022, an appeals court ordered the charges against him to be dropped, but this was overturned by the Supreme Court the following year.

His legal team is due to begin his defense on Thursday after the court rejected their argument that he would not answer.