The U.S. Embassy in Abuja has issued a security alert ahead of the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, warning that the demonstration could lead to violence and citywide disruptions.
In a statement released on Friday, the embassy urged U.S. citizens in Nigeria to avoid protest areas, particularly around Eagle Square and the Central Business District, where tensions could escalate.
“The Free Nnamdi Kanu Now protest has called for peaceful demonstrations on Monday, October 20,” the statement read.
“There may be roadblocks, traffic congestion, and confrontations between police and protestors that could turn violent.”
The embassy advised Americans to limit movement throughout Abuja and stay away from the protest zones.
It further recommended that children remain at home and that domestic staff who travel from outside the city should not report to work on the protest day.
It also called on Americans in Nigeria to maintain heightened security awareness and follow updates from the embassy’s official communication channels.
The planned protest was announced earlier this month by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who said the event would be a “historic, peaceful march” directed toward the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Sowore stated that the protest aims to pressure the federal government to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in detention since June 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya.
Kanu is currently facing terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, a case that has remained a flashpoint for political and ethnic tensions across the southeast.
The embassy’s warning reflects growing concerns about potential unrest in the capital, as previous demonstrations linked to Kanu’s detention have sometimes turned violent