Daniel Otera
On 20 October 2025, protests calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), erupted across Abuja and other cities in Nigeria. These protests, described by organizers as peaceful gatherings advocating for Kanu’s freedom, followed his continued detention, which has been a focal point for both domestic and international human rights concerns.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), security forces responded with force, firing live rounds and tear gas canisters to disperse the crowds. This led to at least one person being injured, though reports on the severity of the injuries remain unclear. Several arrests were made during the protests, with lawyer Alloy Ejimakor and activist Prince Emmanuel being allegedly detained by the police.
Ejimakor, a prominent figure in Kanu’s legal team, was arrested alongside other demonstrators at the FCT Command Criminal Investigation Department located at No. 1 Zaria Street, Garki 2, Abuja. Eyewitnesses reported that the protesters had gathered in various parts of the city, but tensions escalated when police began using tear gas to break up the crowds. Ejimakor condemned the police’s actions, stating that protesters were met with unprovoked aggression.
These protests followed calls from IPOB supporters to demand Kanu’s immediate release, which had been a point of contention since his detention. Despite the confrontations, organizers insist that the demonstrations remained peaceful, aiming to highlight the human rights issues surrounding Kanu’s case.
In addition to the protests, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja issued a security alert, warning American citizens about potential disruptions and urging them to avoid the protest areas, particularly Eagle Square and the Central Business District due to concerns over potential clashes between protesters and the police.
As protests continued, the Nigerian Correctional Service declared all correctional centers in the country as “Red Zones” to discourage further demonstrations near prison facilities, citing security concerns.
Eyewitness videos shared online captured protesters scattering amid gunfire, while heavy roadblocks choked traffic in areas like Wuse and the Central Business District, forcing commuters to stay indoors. One resident posted on X: “Abuja is totally choked, no road to go anywhere,” reflecting the disruption that halted daily movement in the capital.
Nnamdi Kanu’s legal journey has been long and tumultuous, with several pivotal moments shaping his case. Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015, in Lagos by the Department of State Services (DSS). He was charged with treasonable felony, incitement, and membership in an unlawful society under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act. His arrest sparked national and international controversy, given his outspoken advocacy for the secession of Biafra and his calls for an independent state.
Kanu spent more than a year in detention, despite repeated court orders granting him bail. In 2016, Justice Binta Nyako ruled that Kanu’s continued detention violated his rights, but the DSS refused to release him. It wasn’t until April 25, 2017, that Kanu was granted bail on health grounds, with stringent conditions including a N100 million surety and restrictions on foreign travel.
In 2019, Kanu jumped bail after accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect him. He resurfaced in Israel, where he resumed his broadcasts, further intensifying tensions surrounding his case. On June 27, 2021, Kanu was rearrested through a controversial extraordinary rendition from Kenya, sparking a legal uproar over the legitimacy of his arrest.
Following his re-arrest, Kanu faced 15 new charges, including terrorism, treason, and defamation of the president. However, on October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Abuja quashed the charges, ruling that Kanu’s arrest and detention were illegal. Despite this, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling on December 15, 2023, and remitted the case for retrial.
As of October 16, 2025, after the federal government called 28 witnesses, the trial has been adjourned with Kanu’s defense scheduled to begin on October 23, 2025. The trial is expected to conclude by October 30, 2025. Despite claims of poor health from Kanu’s defense team, a medical panel on October 16, 2025, declared him fit for trial, rejecting the health claims.
Kanu’s legal battle has drawn significant attention, with public records showing a pattern of prolonged detention phases, averaging 18 months per phase. The Nigerian Prisons Service has reported an increase in detainees on terrorism-related charges in the Southeast, underscoring the broader context of separatist cases. IPOB, which was proscribed as a terrorist group in 2017, has faced numerous clashes with security forces, resulting in over 150 deaths and hundreds of arrests.
In parallel with these legal battles, the economic and social impacts of IPOB’s actions, including their sit-at-home orders, have been significant. The loss to the Southeast economy has been estimated at N1.2 billion daily.
The protests today bear clear parallels with the #EndSARS movement that erupted in October 2020. The catalyst for the 2020 movement was the shooting of a man by a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officer at Wetland Hotel in Delta State on October 4, 2020. This sparked a nationwide outcry, leading to protests across Nigeria, particularly against police brutality and the infamous SARS unit. Within days, protests spread to major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, with over 100,000 participants by October 11, according to police estimates.
On October 13, the Nigerian government disbanded SARS, but tensions escalated, and on October 20, security forces fired on peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, resulting in at least 12 deaths, according to Amnesty International. In total, 56 individuals lost their lives during the protests across 28 states. Public records from the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry, released in 2021, confirmed 14 deaths and 196 injuries at Lekki alone, though no convictions have been made to date.
A detailed comparison of the #EndSARS protests with current protests shows significant parallels in government suppression tactics. By day seven of the #EndSARS movement, roadblocks were reported in 22 states, and by week two, 15 cities had witnessed the use of tear gas. By week three, live ammunition was deployed in various locations, mirroring the swift military response to protests in Abuja today.
Arrests during the #EndSARS protests followed a steep upward trajectory, with 48 arrests on the first day, climbing to 1,300 by November, according to police logs. Similar protests, such as those for Kanu, have averaged 200 arrests per major event, with around 10% of these arrests involving gunfire.
Social media played a critical role in amplifying the #EndSARS protests, and it is once again proving essential in the current protests for Kanu’s release. The hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow and #MNKOct20 exploded on X (formerly Twitter), with over 5,000 posts in the first four hours, marking a 300% increase in activity from the baseline. These online movements tie closely with Nigeria’s youth migration boom. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 1.8 million youths aged 15-34 enter urban labor markets annually, fueling activism in major cities like Abuja, where 52% of the population is youth. Yet, unemployment remains high, with 42.5% unemployment and 22.8% underemployment in 2020, updated to 38% in 2024 by the International Labour Organization.
In Lagos, 1,200 mentions were recorded, and 900 mentions were recorded in Abuja, reflecting the centrality of the protests to Nigeria’s urban youth. Over 60% of those using the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow were under 30, reshaping the protests from static rallies to real-time networks, similar to the youth-driven tweets that sustained momentum in the #EndSARS protests.
These protests also resonate on a global scale. Nnamdi Kanu’s case and the demonstrations calling for his release have brought attention to human rights issues in Nigeria, drawing international scrutiny. Activists like Omoyele Sowore, who joined the Abuja march before fleeing gunfire, have stressed the non-violent nature of the protests. “Peaceful protesters demanding justice and Nnamdi Kanu’s release are being attacked with live bullets. This is not democracy but oppression,” Sowore said. Videos of Sowore running from shots near the Unity Fountain have gone viral, illustrating the high stakes involved in these protests.
In Enugu and Onitsha, smaller groups faced similar barriers, with police blocking bridges and markets. Kanu’s brother, Kingsley, addressed supporters via video, calling for global awareness: “The world must see what’s happening in Nigeria.”
As Nigeria’s population approaches 232 million, with a growth rate of 2.4% annually, youth-led actions continue to highlight unresolved grievances related to security and human rights. The protests of today, held at 20:10:20 to reflect the symbolic significance of Kanu’s 1967 Biafran reference, attracted cross-regional support. However, they lacked participation from major political opposition figures.
In response to the unrest, police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the deployment of officers to “maintain order,” citing potential breaches of the Public Order Act. As Kanu’s trial resumes in three days, these protests have added urgency to a decade-long saga that has already claimed numerous lives and disrupted livelihoods.