ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters has justified the use of tear gas by its officers to disperse protesters in Abuja who were demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The demonstrations took place in several parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Maitama, Jabi, and the Three Arms Zone, as protesters called for Kanu’s release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he has been detained since June 2021.
According to eyewitnesses, the protesters attempted to march towards the Three Arms Zone — an area housing the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and the Court of Appeal — when police operatives fired tear gas canisters to disperse them.
However, the police action sparked outrage from Amnesty International Nigeria, which condemned it as a violation of the protesters’ right to peaceful assembly.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Amnesty International said:
“Amnesty International receives disturbing reports of attempts to crack down on peaceful protests in Abuja, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and shows unacceptable intolerance for peaceful dissent.”
The rights group urged the Nigerian government to ensure that security agencies respect citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful protest, as guaranteed under both local and international human rights laws — including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
While calling for an end to what it described as “repression of peaceful demonstrators,” Amnesty International also urged the authorities to address the protesters’ grievances.
Responding to the criticism, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the police’s actions, insisting they acted within the law.
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In a post on X, Hundeyin explained:
“Police tear-gassed protesters attempting to approach Aso Villa, in clear violation of a court order restricting protests within certain areas — including the Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way. We are the country’s foremost law enforcement agency; we carried out our duty and only cleared the road after it had been blocked by the protesters to allow other Nigerians free movement.”
Nnamdi Kanu remains in DSS custody and continues to face terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
