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Human rights activist and Take It Back movement leader, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, by the Nigerian police during the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
Sowore, in a post on his social media pages, demanded their immediate release, accusing the police of using force against peaceful demonstrators.
Sowore stated that the police team deployed for the protest went beyond their duty by assaulting innocent citizens.
He said both Ejimakor and Prince Emmanuel, along with other peaceful participants, were beaten before being taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command. “The police must free them without delay,” he insisted.
Confirming his arrest, Barrister Ejimakor also posted online, saying he, Prince Emmanuel, and several others had been detained at the FCT Command in Garki, Abuja.
He shared the location as “No. 1 Zaria Street, Garki 2,” where they were reportedly being held.
Kanunta Kanu, another brother of the detained leader, also confirmed the arrests. He described the police action as unlawful and called for their immediate freedom, insisting that peaceful protest is a constitutional right.
He criticized the authorities for suppressing voices demanding justice and freedom for Nnamdi Kanu.
Earlier, security forces had fired tear gas at Sowore, several clergymen, and activists who gathered near the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja to call for Kanu’s release.
Witnesses said police officers used multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the protesters, including civil society members and church leaders chanting solidarity songs.
The heavy police presence extended to Maitama and the Central Area, where commuters and traders were caught in the chaos.
Witnesses said the police started firing tear gas even before demonstrators arrived, sending people running for safety.
Security operatives from the Police, Army, and DSS have since taken over key parts of the capital, including Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and routes leading to Aso Rock.
The government had earlier warned organizers to avoid restricted areas, but activists vowed to continue, accusing authorities of violating citizens’ rights and ignoring court orders for Kanu’s release.
