By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of violently dispersing peaceful protesters and assaulting key supporters of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Sowore alleged that the police attacked the demonstrators near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, firing tear gas and live bullets to break up the rally.
He said that Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lawyer, and Kanu’s younger brother were among those beaten and arrested by security operatives during the protest.
“We started the protest in front of the Transcorp Hotel, and security operatives, army, police, and civil defence came around. I told them we are not enemies and that the protest was peaceful. Suddenly, they started shooting tear gas and even live bullets at us,” Sowore said.
According to him, no one was hit by the bullets, but several protesters were arrested, including Ejimakor and Kanu’s brother, who were allegedly assaulted before being taken to the FCT Police Command.
Sowore described the incident as an unprovoked attack and condemned what he called the continued repression of citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since June 2021 following his extradition from Kenya.
He is facing terrorism-related charges before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Kanu’s lawyers have repeatedly called for his temporary release to seek medical treatment abroad, citing health concerns, though authorities maintain that his condition is being adequately managed in custody.
