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Protests in Nigeria’s capital calling for the release of a separatist leader turned violent on Monday as police fired tear gas and arrested dozens of protesters as well as a journalist. French News agency Agence France-Presseor AFP, who was released shortly afterwards.
Eyewitnesses and journalists also reported hearing gunshots amid clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital. abuja,
Dozens of protesters spread across different parts of the city were demanding the authorities’ release Nnamdi KanuLeader of the Indigenous People of Biafra separatist group, which seeks independence for the southeastern region of Nigeria.
In central Abuja and on major roads, police used tear gas, water cannons and electrical barriers to disperse protests, according to witnesses and video from the scene.
Protests and deployment of security forces on major roads disrupted traffic and left some passengers stranded.
Kanu’s case has been a major issue in separatist movements in south-east Nigeria, where the Igbo ethnic group alleges marginalization by the Nigerian government.
Kanu, who holds British citizenship, has been in and out of detention since 2015, when he was first arrested and charged with terrorism and treason. A Nigerian court recently ordered him to face trial, rejecting his request to release him on the grounds that the Nigerian government has no case to prove against him.
One of Kanu’s lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, said on X that he was one of those arrested.
His office in Abuja said the AFP reporter was released after his arrest, but his equipment was destroyed during the dispute. “There were no protesters at the scene where he was arrested,” AFP said.