In a forceful response to public dissent, a Magistrate Court in Abuja has ordered two prominent figures associated with the campaign for Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom to be imprisoned. Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the brother of the detained IPOB leader, and the family’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, were remanded in custody alongside eleven others. Their arrest occurred during a widespread protest on Monday that brought parts of the capital city to a standstill.

The protest, organized under the banner #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, saw demonstrators clog major roads, preventing many workers and commuters from reaching their destinations. The police moved in to break up the gatherings, leading to the arrests. Authorities stated the protesters were violating public peace and ignoring a recent court order.

That court order, issued just days before the protest, specifically banned demonstrations in key government areas. A Federal High Court judge had ruled that protesters could not assemble near sensitive locations like the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, and other major government buildings in the city center.

This legal action has sparked a debate over the right to protest. While the police cite the court order as their reason for the crackdown, the arrest of Kanu’s legal representative, Aloy Ejimakor, raises questions. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the five-year detention of Nnamdi Kanu, whose case continues to stir public action and strong government pushback.