The Nigeria Police Force has denied allegations that its operatives fired live bullets at demonstrators during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest held in Abuja on Monday.
The protest, led by politician and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore alongside other supporters of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, drew a large turnout, with participants demanding Kanu’s immediate release.
In the wake of the demonstration, videos surfaced online showing protesters fleeing amid heavy smoke and loud explosive sounds.
Sowore alleged that both police officers and soldiers used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the crowd, adding that several individuals—including journalists and lawyers—were arrested.
However, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed these claims as untrue. In a statement issued on Monday, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that no live rounds were used during the protest.
“At no point did the police fire live ammunition at any protester. What people heard were sounds from tear gas canisters used to disperse those who attempted to breach restricted areas,” Hundeyin stated.
He noted that officers acted in accordance with the law and adhered to standard operational procedures. According to him, only minimal force was used to maintain public order after demonstrators ignored repeated warnings and attempted to enter restricted zones around the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and Eagle Square.
Hundeyin added that the police operation was backed by a court order obtained the previous week, which prohibited gatherings near what authorities described as “critical national infrastructure.”
“Our duty is to protect lives and property. The court order clearly prohibited gatherings within sensitive zones of the Federal Capital Territory, and our officers only enforced that order,” he said.
Despite the police position, protest organizers have maintained that the response from security forces was excessive. In a statement posted online, Sowore insisted that live bullets and tear gas were used against unarmed protesters, calling the action “a gross violation of fundamental rights.”
“They attacked unarmed citizens who were only exercising their constitutional rights to assemble and speak out. We will not be intimidated,” he said.
The #FreeNnamdiKanu protest is one of several recent demonstrations aimed at pressuring the Federal Government to comply with court orders directing Kanu’s release.
Human rights observers have since called for an independent investigation into the conduct of security operatives during the protest, amid growing concerns about how authorities handle peaceful civic demonstrations in the country.
