#FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest: Police Barricade NUJ Secretariat in Utako

Security operatives in Abuja launched a heavy crackdown on peaceful protesters on Monday, barricading the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Chapter Secretariat and firing tear gas and live bullets to disperse demonstrators calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, led by Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, kicked off at the Central Business District (CBD) in the early hours of the morning but was quickly met with force.

BusinessDay reporter at the scene confirmed that heavily armed police and military officers sealed off access roads to major government buildings, including the National Assembly, Federal Secretariat, and Eagle Square effectively paralysing movement in central Abuja.

Amidst the chaos, police forces also cordoned off the NUJ Secretariat, preventing journalists from covering the protest freely and raising concerns about press freedom.