IPOB is pushing for an independent Biafran nation in south-eastern Nigeria. Police fired tear gas and blocked roads as people gathered in support of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Several individuals, including Kanu’s relatives and lawyers, were reportedly arrested, though police haven’t confirmed this. Kanu, seen as a hero by many in the region, was first arrested in 2015, fled in 2017, and was re-arrested in 2021. His legal case has seen multiple twists, and his defence is set to begin on Thursday.
Nigerian Police Use Tear Gas to Disperse Protesters Supporting Separatist Leader





The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are campaigning for the independence of what they refer to as the Biafran nation, located in Nigeria’s south-east. Tensions rose early in the day as eyewitnesses reported that police fired several rounds of tear gas at individuals who had begun assembling as early as 7:00 a.m. In addition to the crackdown, major roads in the capital were blocked by security forces, leading to severe traffic congestion and widespread confusion throughout various parts of the city.
Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore posted on X (formerly Twitter) that several individuals were taken into custody by security personnel. Among those reportedly arrested were members of Nnamdi Kanu’s family as well as members of his legal team. As of now, the police have not issued any statement regarding these arrests.
Despite numerous legal confrontations with the Nigerian government, Nnamdi Kanu continues to be revered by many of his supporters, particularly in the south-eastern region of the country. IPOB, the group he leads, was declared a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government in 2017. Its armed division, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), has been accused of being involved in a series of violent incidents, including targeted killings and other acts of unrest.
Kanu was initially arrested in October 2015 on terrorism-related charges. However, he fled the country in 2017 after being released on bail and following a military operation at his residence. His bail was officially revoked by the courts in March 2019, which also included an order for his re-arrest. In 2021, the Nigerian government confirmed that Kanu had been re-arrested. His legal representatives claim that he was apprehended in Kenya, though the Kenyan government has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in his extradition.
In a significant legal twist, a Nigerian appeal court in 2022 ruled that the charges against Kanu be dismissed, but this decision was later reversed by the Supreme Court in 2023. Now, Kanu’s legal team is preparing to launch his defence in court on Thursday, following the dismissal of their preliminary argument that he had no case to answer.