Global human rights organization, Amnesty International, has raised the alarm over reports of attempts by Nigerian security forces to suppress peaceful demonstrations in Abuja, calling for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued on Monday amid the ongoing protest in Abuja, Amnesty International said it had received disturbing reports of attempts to crack down on the peaceful protesters.
The statement emphasized the fundamental right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and warned that any form of intimidation, violence, or restriction against lawful protesters would constitute a breach of constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act capable of undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and portrays unacceptable intolerance of peaceful dissent,” Amnesty International stated.
The organization urged the Nigerian authorities to ensure that law enforcement agencies act within the bounds of the law, adding that security forces have a duty not only to respect but also to facilitate citizens’ right to protest.
“The Nigerian authorities must ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both the country’s own constitution and human rights treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party,” the statement added.
The warning comes amid the heavy joint security forces crackdown on peaceful protesters demanding the unconditional release of Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria in June 2021.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that human rights activist Omoyele Sowore accused Nigerian security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack and shooting live bullets at the #FreeNnamdiKanu peaceful protesters in Abuja.
Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Sowore alleged that security forces opened fire at the protesters shortly after the protest began in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where protesters had gathered to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), alleged that a combined team of the police, soldiers, and civil defence personnel carried out the operation, firing both tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the protesters.
“There were about 10 trucks that arrived as soon as we started the protest. There was no provocation on our part, like we had promised. It was an orderly and peaceful protest,” Sowore said.
“Suddenly, from nowhere, they started shooting at us, tear gas, and some live bullets were fired. Luckily, I don’t think anybody was hit with live bullets, but they were just shooting all around us.”
He urged the Nigerian Government to present its evidence before the court instead of resorting to repression.
Police had earlier deployed officers along key routes leading to the Presidential Villa, while Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and the Three Arms Zone were heavily fortified.
Access roads to the Federal Secretariat and surrounding areas were barricaded, with motorists and pedestrians denied entry.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Unity Fountain, the rally’s planned take-off point, was sealed off and patrolled by heavily armed security personnel, making the area completely inaccessible.
In another incident, a combined team of soldiers and police officers fired tear gas at a crowd near the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Utako.
SaharaReporters learnt that the crowd was not part of the protest but dispersed quickly as operatives advanced.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 on alleged treason charges, granted bail, and later fled the country during trial after troops of the Nigerian Army attacked his residence in Abia state.
He was re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria under controversial circumstances and held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he has remained despite several court rulings ordering his release.
In August 2025, the Federal High Court dismissed Kanu’s no-case submission, paving the way for him to face terrorism-related charges.
His legal team has repeatedly raised concerns over his deteriorating health and urged his transfer to the National Hospital, Abuja.
Amnesty International has repeatedly documented cases of police brutality, arbitrary arrests, and excessive use of force during public demonstrations in Nigeria, particularly during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, and subsequent protests demanding accountability.
The global human rights organization reiterated that peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy and urged the Nigerian government to uphold its human rights commitments.
