Wayne Lumbasi
Mass protests erupted in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Monday as hundreds of demonstrators demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The demonstrations, which began peacefully, quickly descended into chaos as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
Security forces were deployed across major intersections, blocking roads and firing tear gas at protesters who gathered near the Federal High Court complex. Reports from local media indicated that several people were injured, while dozens including journalists were arrested. The unrest brought parts of the city to a standstill, disrupting business and traffic.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, faces charges of terrorism and treason for leading the Biafran separatist movement, which seeks independence for Nigeria’s southeastern region dominated by the Igbo ethnic group. His supporters argue that his trial is politically motivated and accuse the government of marginalizing the southeast.
The movement’s call for a separate Biafran state revives painful memories of Nigeria’s civil war between 1967 and 1970, which claimed over a million lives. In recent years, IPOB’s “sit at home” orders in southeastern states have led to hundreds of deaths and severe economic losses, deepening tensions with the federal government.
Human rights groups have condemned the heavy handed response by security forces, warning that the use of excessive force could fuel further unrest. Despite the violence, protesters vowed to continue demanding Kanu’s release, signaling that the long standing Biafran question remains far from resolved.
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