Nigeria witnessed another wave of nationwide agitation on Monday, October 20, 2025, as demonstrators under the banner of #FreeNnamdiKanuNow took to the streets, demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
While the Federal Capital Territory saw heavy clashes between protesters and security operatives, major cities in the South-East were completely shut down in a show of solidarity.
Tension and Confrontation in Abuja
In Abuja, security forces moved early to forestall large-scale protests.
By dawn, key routes including Shehu Shagari Way, Eagle Square, and the National Assembly axis had been cordoned off by heavily armed police and military personnel.
Crowds gathered around the Transcorp Hilton area in Maitama, chanting ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu Now’ and carrying placards demanding his immediate release.
The demonstration soon turned chaotic when security operatives fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. Witnesses said live rounds were fired into the air as traders and commuters fled the area.
Shops around Chida Hotel in the Utako district were forced to close after tear gas spread through the vicinity. Business owners locked up for safety as police intensified the crackdown.
Several arrests were made, including that of journalist John Okunyomih of Agence France-Presse (AFP), who was detained while covering the protest.
He was later released and reported that his camera and equipment were damaged during the confrontation.
Police authorities later confirmed the arrests, stating that the measures were necessary to prevent what they described as “a potential breakdown of law and order.”
South-East Shutdown: Protest Without Crowds
In Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi states, the protest took a different form, a total shutdown.
Streets, markets, and schools were deserted, as residents observed what many described as a “sit-at-home in solidarity.”
In Enugu metropolis, transport services were grounded and public offices closed.
In Aba, the commercial heart of Abia State, traders stayed away from major markets such as Ariaria and Ahia Ohuru.
Ebonyi’s capital, Abakaliki, was similarly deserted.
Unlike Abuja, there were no major confrontations. The silence, however, was seen as a collective act of defiance and frustration over Kanu’s continued detention despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.
Lagos and Other Cities: Tight Security, Limited Action
In Lagos, the police had earlier launched a “show of force” across strategic points including Ikeja, Lekki, and Ojota, warning against unlawful gatherings.
Only a few individuals attempted to assemble in Maryland and Yaba but were swiftly dispersed by security operatives.
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The state’s police command later described the day as “peaceful,” crediting preemptive security deployments for averting disruption.
The Unresolved Question
The renewed agitation underscores deep frustration among Kanu’s supporters, who accuse the Federal Government of defying judicial orders and using excessive force to silence dissent.
The government maintains that Kanu faces serious charges related to treasonable felony and must remain in custody until due process is concluded.
Legal experts and civil society groups continue to urge dialogue and respect for the rule of law, warning that repeated suppression of peaceful demonstrations risks further alienating citizens and escalating tensions in the South-East.
As dusk fell on October 20, the contrast was stark, smoke and tear gas lingering over Abuja’s streets, while the South-East sat in silence.
The day’s events once again exposed Nigeria’s uneasy balance between national security and civil liberty, a struggle that remains unresolved as the call to “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now” grows louder both at home and abroad.