Severe traffic congestion crippled movement along the Kugbo-Nyanya Expressway on Monday morning as the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest disrupted commuter flow into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The demonstration, led by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, began around 7 a.m. near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. Protesters are demanding the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 on terrorism-related charges.
NTA News reported that the gridlock was exacerbated by parked vehicles and protest gatherings along the Abuja-Keffi highway, merging with the usual morning rush.
“Motorists heading into the FCT from the Kugbo-Nyanya axis experienced slow movement, with several lanes obstructed by protest-related activity,” the station said, noting that the corridor is frequently affected during security operations or public demonstrations.
Despite a Federal High Court injunction banning protests near key government areas, demonstrators planned to march toward the Presidential Villa, heightening security tensions across the capital.
Earlier reports from The Telegraph confirmed that security operatives fired tear gas to disperse protesters — including Sowore — as they gathered near the protest’s starting point. Officers had cordoned off parts of the city centre, deploying heavy security around major routes.
The resulting standoff contributed to a tense atmosphere in Abuja, with many onlookers stressing the importance of upholding citizens’ rights to peaceful protest.
