By Pius Awunah
The long awaited protest to press for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Brifra (IPOB),witnessed significant turnout in Abuja the nation’s capital on Monday, October 20,2025,and caused a standstill as major roads were blocked to prevent protesters from gaining access into the National Assembly Complex and other restricted areas.
They include the Force Headquarters, the Court of Appeal,Eagle Square and the Shehu Shagari Way.
Despite the early warning by the Nigeria Police Force, prohibiting people from accessing Eagle Square, Shehu Shagari Way and other places for the protest, the protesters defied and stormed the restricted areas, prompting the police to teargas the protesters and pedestrians who were trekking to their offices as a result of blocked roads.
On the road leading to Eagle square,near the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),Abuja, leader of the protest,activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore and other protesters were seen running away from the teargas, thrown at them by the police.
The protesters who ran away from teargas regrouped and came back in full force, marching from place to place and calling for the release of Nmamdi Kanu.
The protesters chorusesd:”APC Free Nnamdi Kanu. All that we are saying is free Nnamdi Kanu” as they marched along,singing other songs demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
An unspecified number of protesters was arrested by the police including Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor and Kanu’s younger brother,Prince Emmanuel Kanu.
Meanwhile,a major gridlock occurred on Monday morning along the busy Kugbo–Nyanya section of the Abuja–Keffi Expressway following a heavy security deployment to crack down on the protesters.
The demonstration caused heavy traffic congestion as motorists heading into Abuja from the Nyanya and Kugbo axis experienced long delays.
Several lanes were reportedly obstructed by parked vehicles and protest-related gatherings, forcing traffic to a crawl.
Commuters said the congestion began early in the morning and worsened as more protesters arrived at the scene.
Security personnel were deployed early in the morning to crack down on the peaceful protesters.
