Protests demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu erupted into a confrontation between protesters and the police on Monday in Nigeria’s capital and a near-total shutdown of trade across the Southeast.

The "#FreeNnamdiKanuNow" rally, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, drew demonstrators to Abuja’s Central Business District, near the Presidential Villa. Security forces swiftly moved to block access to key government sites, including Eagle Square and the National Assembly. Eyewitnesses reported heavy traffic disruptions, with federal workers temporarily barred from entering ministries, compounding gridlock from Nyanya to the airport corridor. Protesters also staged walks in Apo, Berger and other areas of the Federal Capital Territory.

Police deployed tear gas and arrested several protesters, including Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, and Bar. Mandela Umez. All three remain in custody at the Federal Capital Territory Command’s Criminal Investigation Department. Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi defended the response, citing a Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations near sensitive government areas. He denied the use of live ammunition and described the force used as “minimal.”

Sowore condemned the crackdown, calling it “brutalization,” and vowed to continue the protests. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps decried an early morning disruption at its headquarters, labeling the protest an “anti-government demonstration” and deploying undercover operatives nationwide to protect critical infrastructure.

In the Southeast, the impact was widespread. A sit-at-home order led to the closure of markets, banks, and schools in cities like Umuahia and Aba in Abia State. In Anambra, major commercial hubs such as Onitsha Main Market and Nkwo Nnewi were shut, though some roadside vendors operated under a heavy police presence. Ebonyi’s capital, Abakaliki, saw deserted streets and increased security patrols, a pattern mirrored in Enugu and Imo states, where public spaces like motor parks and malls remained closed.

Kanu, who has been in custody since his controversial rendition from Kenya in 2021, faces treason charges. Despite multiple court rulings granting him bail, he remains detained by the Department of State Services (DSS). His trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday, following a medical panel’s recent declaration that he is fit to stand trial.