Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday resumed the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja, hours after police operatives violently dispersed an earlier demonstration at the Transcorp Hilton and Maitama areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sowore, joined by clergymen, civil society activists, and members of pro-democracy groups, returned to the streets in defiance of what he described as “a brutal and unlawful attempt to silence peaceful citizens.”
The protesters, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, marched through parts of the Central Business District and Eagle Square, demanding the immediate release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Earlier in the day, the protest had turned chaotic when heavily armed police officers fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse demonstrators gathered near the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) headquarters and Transcorp Hilton. Videos from the scene showed people running in panic as gunfire echoed through the streets.
Despite the chaos, Sowore and several protesters regrouped later in the afternoon, vowing not to be intimidated. Addressing reporters, the activist condemned the police for what he called “an assault on democracy and a violation of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.”
Sowore is not doing this in the south easterners interest.. the fathom protest has rubbish the ground gains in proffering a political solution earlier adopts by the igbo elders forum..
Law in Nigeria is dead