By Peter Omopo
A popular commercial complex, EDA Plaza, located in the Jabi district of Abuja, has been sealed off after police officers fired tear gas into the building while dispersing protesters demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The incident occurred on Monday when the protesters, who had earlier converged in the area as part of the #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow campaign, were confronted by security operatives. Eyewitnesses said the demonstrators fled into the plaza to escape the effects of the tear gas, prompting officers to fire more canisters into the premises.
Journalists, traders, and shoppers within the complex were forced to flee in panic as thick smoke filled the air. As of press time, the plaza remained closed, with police patrol vehicles stationed around the vicinity to prevent further unrest.
Earlier reports indicated that similar demonstrations had taken place in other parts of Abuja, including Maitama and Utako, where police had also used tear gas to disperse protesters.
The demonstrators, comprising civil rights activists and pro-democracy groups, had been calling on the Federal Government to comply with the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted Kanu of all charges.
According to witnesses, the protest began peacefully near the Transcorp Hilton area before escalating when police fired multiple rounds of tear gas, causing chaos among commuters and passersby.
After regrouping at Utako, the protesters resumed chanting solidarity songs and waving banners until armed officers once again intervened, dispersing the crowd.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm whether any arrests were made.
