Economic activities were on Monday , October 20, grounded in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, following the protest led by Omoyele Sowore, founder of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, which is seeking the unconditional release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
As early as 6:00am, the police had already blocked all access routes leading to the FCT, causing gridlock which prevented workers from accessing their offices.
The protest, meant to be peaceful, soon turned violent in the Maitama area of Abuja as the Police and other security agencies fired tear gas at protesters, who scampered in different directions.
It will be recalled that the police had on Sunday warned protesters not to go close to Aso Rock, the National Assembly complex and environs, threatening to deal with any violation.
The protesters, including Kanu’s lawyer, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, and others had gathered around the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, headquarters in Maitama chanting “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now.”
They were also heard cautioning the Police against tear-gassing them just before sounds of gunshots were heard and they scampered to safety.
Consequently, the stampede, coupled with the closure of roads by the police, made movement within the city difficult.
Residents, who got stranded as a result of the gridlock caused by the face-off, expressed anger over the decision of security forces to mount barricades at strategic points within the city, a development which caused serious gridlock.
The gridlock was most severe for commuters from Bwari, Ushafa, Dutse and parts of Kubwa who couldn’t get to the city centre.
It was gathered that motorists along the Nyanya-Mararaba road were also stranded due to the security checkpoints mounted on the road.
In the Sokale area, one of the motorists, Usman Jibrin, said he had been on one spot for over an hour.
”If people want to go to the Villa, why should it affect those of us on the outskirts? Are they (security forces) scared that people would be imported this morning (yesterday) for the protest? This is punishment and God is watching us all.’’
Tight security at Aso Villa
Because the protesters planned to march on State House, the official residence of President Bola Tinubu, the whole precincts of Aso Villa was locked down by security men.
Investigations showed heavy deployment of security forces, including soldiers, police, and hooded DSS operatives, who blocked access to the Three Arms Zone.
Stop-and-search checks were intensified, and even Villa staff with parking permits were redirected away from the complex.
Staff of State House coming from Nyanya, Maraba, Asokoro and Kubwa axis were prevented from having direct access to Villa via the fire service end but were diverted to the route from Force Headquarters, back to the fire service gate.
A Villa employee wrote on social media about the blockade: “Please can someone find out what is going on in the Villa? All access roads are blocked. Nobody is allowed in, even with tags.
”The disruption extended beyond the Villa, with the Keffi-Abuja expressway experiencing hours-long gridlock as soldiers halted traffic at the Karu Bridge before the Sani Abacha Barracks for checks as early as 4a.m.
Civil servants and traders from Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, and Masaka bore the brunt of the delays.
Similar tension was reported along the Dutse-Bwari and Airport Road corridors, with detours announced for travellers from the airport area towards the Central Business District.
Security remained visible around routes to the Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the National Assembly to forestall any disruptions.
By this time, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s younger brother, Fineboy Kanu, and some protesters had been arrested by the police. But Sowore managed to escape.
Some journalists covering the protest, including Agence France-Presse, AFP reporter, Mr. John Okunyomih, were not only assaulted but also had their devices seized by the Police, which prompted reactions from the FCT council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
Meanwhile, reacting to the arrest, human rights activist and leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, demanded their immediate release.
Sowore took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to condemn the action and warned the police against what he described as an “illegal detention.”
He wrote: “The @FCT_PoliceNG is instructed to release Barrister @AloyEjimakor, Fineboy Kanu, and others illegally arrested, tortured, and currently being forced into detention over #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest immediately, or we will mobilize the entire crew now on the street to the FCT command and occupy their office!”
