BREAKING: Sowore Flees As Police Bullet Scare Off #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters in Abuja
Security operatives this morning teargas and fired gunshots in the Maitama Area of Abuja to forcefully disperse protesters seeking the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in a protest, tagged: #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.
In a video seen online, Sowore was seen chanting “Free Kanu” with supporters, only to take off running when security operatives fired gunshots.
The protesters, including Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and others had gathered around the Nigeria Communications Commission NCC headquarters in Maitama, chanting “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now”.
Earlier, Sowore and some of the protesters had shouted at the police, saying, “Don’t teargas us! Don’t teargas us! Respect rule of law! We have rights to protest, we’re Nigerians.”
Leaders of the protest could be heard cautioning the police before sounds of gunshots were heard, and they scampered to safety.
The protesters, agitating for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, have fled the protest ground after combined security forces released live bullets.
The protesters, led by the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement and former Presidential candidate of African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, gathered as early as 6:50am around the headquarters of Women Affairs ministry.
The security forces drawn from the Nigerian police, Guards Brigade, Department of State Services (DSS) and NSCDC, had beefed up security around Presidential Villa, since Sunday.
They mounted road blocks at strategic places leading to the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Court of Appeal Headquarters, Force Headquarters and the popular Eagle Square.
Before the beef up, the protesters had vowed to march to the Presidential Villa to press home their demands regarding the continued detention of the IPOB leader.
They marched around the Court of Appeal, the operatives fired different shots.
The protesters had earlier thought the police officers, who were preventing them from advancing further wanted to fire teargas cannisters at them but they fled when live bullets were being released from different directions.
As at when filing this report, the military Armoured Personal Carriers from the Guards, Nigerian police and the DSS were still stationed at those strategic locations.
