Free Kanu Protest: Police Fired Bullets At Us Unprovoked – Sowore

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that security operatives fired live bullets and tear gas at peaceful protesters during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.

Speaking in a phone interview on Channels Television on Monday, Sowore said the group had only just begun their protest in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel when a combined team of police, army, and civil defence officers arrived and opened fire without provocation.

“We were starting a protest in front of the Transcorp Hilton hotel when this huge contingent of police, army, and civil defence came. We started telling them that we were not their enemies, that it wasn’t about them.

“Suddenly, from nowhere, they started shooting at us with tear gas, and even live bullets. Luckily, I don’t think anybody was hit with a live bullet, but they were shooting all around us,” Sowore said.

He described the incident as an “unprovoked attack” on a peaceful and orderly demonstration, insisting that protesters did not confront the security agents.

“There were about ten trucks, including gun trucks, that arrived at once. There was no provocation on our part. It was a peaceful, orderly protest like we promised,” he explained.

Sowore further disclosed that several protesters were arrested, including Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and the IPOB leader’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, who were allegedly beaten and taken to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.

THE WHISTLER reports that Ejimakor later confirmed his arrest in a post on his X handle, saying he was detained alongside other protesters at the FCT Command Criminal Investigation Department, Garki, Abuja.

“We’ve just been arrested. Myself, Prince Emanuel and others. We are at FCT COMMAND CID. Myself, Fine Boy and others. No 1 Zaria Street, Gariki 2, Abuja,” he wrote.

He also accused the police of using tear gas to disperse demonstrators, saying it left him with irritation in his eyes and throat.

The protesters had planned to march from the Unity Fountain to the Aso Rock Villa to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 despite court rulings ordering his release.