Tension in Abuja as #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protesters Defy Court Order, Plan Massive March to Aso Rock

Organisers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest have vowed to proceed with their planned march to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

This comes despite an interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrains the group from holding demonstrations near the Villa, the National Assembly, and other sensitive government locations.

According to the organisers, the planned demonstration will go ahead as a peaceful convergence in the Federal Capital Territory, alongside simultaneous protests in the South-East region.

The Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, told The Punch that the group remains resolute in its mission.

“Nothing shall discourage us! Marching peacefully anywhere in the country is our constitutionally guaranteed right. Nothing can derogate it,” he declared.

Adenola further described the court order as an attempt to suppress civil rights, insisting that the protest seeks to highlight what he called “the erosion of justice” in Nigeria.

“There is no going back on our resolve to fight this inhumane, illegal, and strongman act scripted to promote the erosion of our rights and the capture of whatever remains of our criminal justice system,” he added.

The Federal High Court’s order, issued by Justice Mohammed Umar on Friday, followed an ex parte motion filed by the Nigeria Police Force on behalf of the Federal Government to halt the planned march.

Despite the injunction, tension continues to build in Abuja as protesters insist on taking their demands to Aso Rock, potentially setting the stage for a confrontation between demonstrators and security agencies.