Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, was thrown into chaos on Monday as several major roads were blocked by protesters demanding the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The demonstrations, which began early in the morning, caused severe gridlock across several parts of the city, leaving motorists, commuters, and other road users stranded for hours. One of the worst-hit areas was the Kugbo–Nyanya Expressway, where traffic stretched for several kilometres, creating a massive bottleneck that crippled movement into the Federal Capital Territory.
Videos circulating on social media and sighted by Naija Blog showed protesters waving banners and chanting solidarity songs as traffic came to a standstill. Vehicles heading into Abuja from the Kugbo–Nyanya axis were forced to a crawl as several lanes were blocked by parked cars and protest activities.
In a related incident, a viral video captured the moment human rights activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and other organizers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scampered for safety after police reportedly fired gunshots to disperse the crowd.
According to reports, security operatives — including police and military personnel — took control of the protest grounds as early as 7 a.m. to prevent demonstrators from marching toward Aso Rock Villa, the official residence of President Bola Tinubu.
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Despite earlier warnings from the Nigeria Police Force cautioning organizers against holding any protest near the Presidential Villa, protesters still converged at strategic points in the city to demand Kanu’s release.
The protests mark a renewed wave of agitation by IPOB supporters, who insist that Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention violates his fundamental human rights.
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