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The Eda Building Materials Plaza in Jabi, Abuja, was compelled to close on Monday after police officers fired tear gas to disperse #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters, triggering panic that extended into nearby shops and sent both traders and customers running for safety.
Eyewitnesses said the protest, which started peacefully, became chaotic when the police attempted to scatter the crowd shouting “Free Nnamdi Kanu!”.
The demonstrators had earlier moved through Maitama, Berger, and Utako areas before gathering close to Jabi Plaza, where security agents intervened.
“The police started shooting tear gas everywhere, and people didn’t even know where to run,” said a trader who identified herself as Ngozi.
“Customers and protesters were all mixed together. We had to lock our shops and run out.”
Several tear gas canisters were reportedly fired into the busy shopping complex, with witnesses saying that officers found it difficult to distinguish protesters from bystanders.
A number of people sustained minor injuries as they scrambled to escape the thick smoke.
In reaction to the chaos, the management of Eda Plaza ordered an immediate shutdown of activities “to safeguard lives and property” and prevent further disorder.
The protest formed part of a wider campaign demanding the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.
Security had already been tightened in parts of Abuja following earlier demonstrations near the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) headquarters in Maitama, where police had also used tear gas to disperse protesters.
At the time of filing this report, calm had returned to the Jabi area, though many shops stayed closed while police patrols continued to prevent any further disturbances.
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