An uneasy calm has descended on Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, as activists loyal to the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Mr Omoyele Sowore, prepare to hit the streets today in a planned protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The protest, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, has drawn reactions across security and civic circles, with the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) issuing stern warnings against any breach of peace or attempt to vandalise critical national assets.
In a statement on Sunday night, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, cautioned intending protesters and counter-protesters against gathering around restricted zones, particularly the Aso Rock Villa and other high-security installations.
Hundeyin said the caution followed a restraining order issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Omoyele Sowore & four others, dated October 17, 2025. The order barred any form of protest within or around Aso Rock, the National Assembly Complex, Force Headquarters, the Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
> “All intending protesters and counter-protest groups are strongly advised to avoid restricted areas and to refrain from acts capable of provoking confrontation or disturbing public order,” Hundeyin stated.
He further emphasised that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory to ensure full enforcement of the court’s directive, including strategic deployments across vulnerable locations to forestall violence.
According to him, security operatives have been placed on high alert to safeguard public and private property, while digital surveillance would be deployed to trace individuals attempting to incite unrest via social media.
> “Anyone caught using the protest as cover to incite violence, carry offensive weapons, or destroy property will face the full weight of the law,” Hundeyin warned.
Similarly, the NSCDC FCT Command has cautioned all groups involved in the planned demonstrations to shun violence and respect the provisions of the law.
Commandant Olusola Odumosu said the corps had deployed special forces to safeguard critical national assets across the territory before, during, and after the rallies.
> “The corps will not condone any form of vandalism or theft of public and private facilities in the name of protest,” he said, urging demonstrators to act within the law.
Odumosu, however, instructed personnel to adopt a “non-kinetic approach” while performing their duties, warning against intimidation, harassment, or accidental discharge.
Meanwhile, tension continues to mount as separate groups have announced parallel demonstrations either in support of or against Kanu’s continued detention. Security operatives have intensified patrols across major entry points and flash zones in Abuja, even as residents express fears of possible disruption of business activities.
Sowore, a fierce critic of government policies and convener of several civil protests in the past, had earlier urged Nigerians—particularly market traders and youths—to join what he described as a “mass civil action” against the “unlawful detention” of Kanu by the Department of State Services (DSS).
As Abuja braces for the showdown, both the police and NSCDC have assured residents of their safety, urging citizens not participating in the protests to go about their lawful businesses without fear.
The authorities’ message, however, remains clear: peaceful expression is welcome—but lawlessness will not be tolerated.
