Police, DSS on Red Alert as Sowore Insists on #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest Despite Court Ban

Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), have placed their personnel on high alert in Abuja ahead of Monday’s planned protest led by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore. The march, organised under the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign, seeks the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Checks on Sunday revealed heavy security presence and roadblocks at strategic locations leading to key government institutions such as the National Assembly Complex, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way. Despite this, Sowore vowed during a press briefing that the protest would go ahead, asserting the constitutional right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly.

Kanu, who has been in DSS custody since June 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony, was first arrested in 2015, granted bail in 2017, and fled following a military invasion of his Abia home. Though multiple courts have ordered his release, the Federal Government has yet to comply — a situation that has sparked widespread criticism and agitation.

Sowore condemned the government’s disregard for court rulings, calling Kanu’s continued detention “a national disgrace.” He maintained that the Court of Appeal had discharged and acquitted Kanu in 2022, accusing authorities of contempt and hypocrisy for ignoring the ruling. He also urged security agencies to protect rather than intimidate protesters, warning against any use of force or unlawful arrests.

In response, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed officers to strictly enforce the Federal High Court’s order prohibiting demonstrations near the Presidential Villa and surrounding areas. Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the force remains committed to upholding the rule of law and maintaining public peace, warning protesters and counter-groups to avoid restricted zones and refrain from violence.

Security expert and Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, urged dialogue over repression, stressing that heavy-handed tactics only harden agitators. He advised the government to release Kanu in line with court orders, demilitarize the South East, and address underlying issues such as youth unemployment, injustice, and political exclusion.

According to Nwanguma, “Nnamdi Kanu’s case is not just a legal matter — it is a test of Nigeria’s commitment to justice and reconciliation. True peace will come not through brute force, but through dialogue, inclusion, and respect for the rule of law.”