Tension in Abuja as Police Disperse #MNKOct20 Protesters with Teargas, Arrest Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Aloy Ejimakor

A peaceful demonstration demanding the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu turned chaotic in Abuja after police reportedly fired teargas at protesters outside the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 20, 2025.

Among those affected was Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lead counsel, who accused the police of using excessive force despite a court-approved protest permit. Ejimakor, visibly shaken, said his eyes and throat were severely irritated by the teargas, describing the police response as “a blatant violation of judicial order and fundamental human rights.”

The demonstration, tagged #MNKOct20, had been sanctioned a day earlier by a Federal High Court, which allowed peaceful rallies but restricted participants from approaching sensitive government zones such as Aso Rock, the National Assembly, and Defence Headquarters. Despite the clear boundaries, security operatives allegedly surrounded the protest site early in the day and demanded immediate dispersal.

Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated when protesters began chanting pro-Kanu slogans and holding placards reading “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now” and “Respect Court Orders.” Moments later, teargas canisters were fired, sending crowds scrambling in all directions. Several protesters, including Ejimakor, were arrested and taken away in police vans.

The Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue an official statement, but security sources claimed the crowd became “unruly” and attempted to breach restricted perimeters — a claim participants firmly deny.

The latest clash underscores the deepening standoff between Nigerian authorities and supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has remained in DSS custody since June 2021 despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.

Kanu’s legal team insists his continued detention is unconstitutional, calling it “a stain on Nigeria’s democracy.” Meanwhile, the government maintains that his freedom poses a threat to national security due to ongoing secessionist agitations in the Southeast.

Public reactions on X have been fierce, with the hashtag #MNKOct20 trending nationwide. While some users decry the crackdown as “state intimidation,” others argue that allowing IPOB-linked protests in the capital risks unrest.

As the dust settles, human rights observers are urging restraint and renewed dialogue, warning that the repeated suppression of peaceful protests only deepens distrust and further polarizes Nigeria’s fragile unity.