Safety forces in Abuja moved to suppress demonstrations on Monday as supporters of the Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB) tried to protest the continued detention of their chief, Nnamdi Kanu, who’s going through terrorism fees earlier than a Federal Excessive Court docket.
Armed police items had been stationed throughout strategic intersections within the capital, supported by troopers, water cannon vehicles, and armoured autos. Witnesses mentioned a number of protesters who gathered across the metropolis centre had been dispersed with volleys of teargas, forcing residents and commuters to take alternate routes.
The protests had been organised to demand Kanu’s launch and an finish to the terrorism trial that his supporters describe as politically motivated.
Kanu, who additionally holds British citizenship, has remained in custody since 2021 after being re-arrested and extradited to Nigeria.
Though the police had earlier warned towards unauthorized gatherings, pro-Biafra sympathizers tried to march by components of central Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and calling for Kanu’s freedom.
The swift response by safety companies prevented the demonstration from spreading, however visitors disruption and heightened pressure had been reported all through the day.
A senior police supply informed Buyers King that the deployment was a safety measure aimed toward sustaining public order.
“We acted on intelligence stories that some teams deliberate to carry coordinated rallies. The operation was to make sure no breakdown of regulation and order,” the officer mentioned.
Nnamdi Kanu leads the banned Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB), a motion in search of the independence of Nigeria’s South-East area, dominated by the Igbo ethnic group.
The federal authorities has repeatedly labelled IPOB a terrorist group, citing safety issues and violent clashes linked to secessionist actions previously.
The motion’s agitation has deep historic roots tracing again to Nigeria’s civil struggle between 1967 and 1970, throughout which greater than one million folks had been killed after the previous Japanese Area declared independence because the Republic of Biafra.
Human rights teams have urged authorities to launch Kanu or expedite his trial, arguing that extended detention with out decision might inflame ethnic tensions. Nonetheless, authorities officers preserve that the case should comply with due authorized course of.
As of Monday night, police patrols remained lively throughout Abuja’s main roads, with no official report of casualties. Companies step by step reopened, although residents expressed concern over the heavy safety presence and the potential for renewed protests within the coming days.
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