Nigeria was gripped by widespread demonstrations on October 20, 2025, as protesters took to the streets in multiple cities to demand the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Kanu has been in detention since 2021 without a final conviction.
The protests, occurring in the capital Abuja, as well as Umuahia, Aba, and Lagos, were met with a significant police crackdown. In Abuja, where the demonstration was led by activist Omoyele Sowore, security forces fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse the crowd.
Police confirmed the arrest of at least 13 individuals. Among those detained were Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejimakor. They were subsequently transferred to a facility described by protesters as “controversial,” raising further concerns from human rights groups who condemned the forceful police response.
The day also saw a separate counter-protest in Abuja, where demonstrators demanded that Kanu’s trial for treason continue. This opposing rally highlights the deep national divisions surrounding the IPOB leader’s case and the ongoing tensions in southeastern Nigeria.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said on Channels Television on Monday that the police did not use any live ammunition in dispersing the protesters. “I can state it authoritatively that no live ammunition was fired today; it’s very easy for people who are not familiar with the sounds to mistake the firing of tear gas for live ammunitions,” he said.
