(DDM) – Security forces in Abuja have taken over Unity Fountain in anticipation of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest demanding the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that dozens of armed policemen barricaded Shehu Shagari Way and other strategic entry points surrounding the Unity Fountain, creating restricted access for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Hilux patrol vans, gun trucks, and water cannon vehicles were deployed around the Transcorp Hilton junction to enforce the security perimeter and control movement in the area.
Some officers were observed opening cartons of tear gas canisters, indicating preparation to disperse protesters and prevent them from reaching designated convergence points.
The heavy police presence has created tension across the Central Business District, with commuters and passersby reportedly harassed and turned back from the vicinity.
The demonstration, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, is organised by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, several pro-democracy groups, and clergy members calling for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), remains in detention despite a 2022 appellate court judgment discharging and acquitting him, fueling claims of government disregard for judicial rulings.
Security operatives, including officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and military personnel, have fortified strategic points across the Federal Capital Territory, including Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and routes leading to Aso Rock.
The pre-emptive lockdown reflects government concerns over potential civil unrest, especially as organisers had vowed to proceed with the march despite warnings and interim court orders restraining protests near sensitive government locations.
Witnesses described a heightened atmosphere of anxiety as ordinary citizens navigating the area were caught in the security clampdown, raising questions about proportionality and the impact on daily life.
The incident adds to a series of confrontations between Nigerian security agencies and activists, highlighting tensions over freedom of assembly, civil liberties, and the contested detention of separatist leaders.
Observers have noted that the government’s preventive measures, while aimed at maintaining order, risk escalating public anger and intensifying nationwide agitation over perceived political persecution.
With protesters still committed to marching and security agencies determined to restrict movement, Abuja remains on high alert as the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest unfolds, drawing national and international attention.