The Nigeria Police Force has refuted claims that live ammunition was used during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday, asserting that only tear gas was deployed to disperse the crowd. The protest, led by activist Omoyele Sowore and joined by Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, initially proceeded without incident until security forces intervened as the group neared the Aso Villa.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police, clarified that the loud noises mistaken for gunshots were the result of tear gas canisters fired to control the crowd. He emphasized that this action was in accordance with standard crowd control procedures, as the protesters had disregarded repeated warnings to disperse.
Hundeyin further explained that the police’s actions were in line with a court order that prohibited the group from approaching certain government areas. “No live ammunition was fired today. The tear gas used was within the bounds of lawful crowd control measures,” he stated.
Despite the police’s statements, witnesses at the scene—including protesters, journalists, and human rights activists—insisted that live rounds had been discharged. Videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes with people running amidst thick smoke and loud explosions, fuelling the controversy and sparking widespread backlash.
The protest coincided with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, which similarly started peacefully before escalating into violence. Sowore, before his arrest, asserted that the demonstration was meant to call for justice and the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, whom he described as a victim of political persecution.
In response, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga criticized the participation of Kanu’s lawyer in the protest, arguing that it breached the professional conduct expected of a lawyer involved in an active case. However, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong defended the protest, stating that there is no law barring a lawyer from participating in peaceful demonstrations.
The police have confirmed that all those arrested during the protest will face charges. They also condemned the reported assault on journalists by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who were deployed at the scene.
