The Nigerian police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had gathered in the capital, Abuja, over the continued detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters, led by activist and publisher of the Sahara Reporters news site, Omoyele Sowore, want the immediate release of Kanu, who is on trial on terrorism charges and heads the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob).
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, has denied the charges. He also holds British nationality.
Ipob is seeking independence for what they call the Biafran nation in south-eastern Nigeria.
Eyewitnesses reported that police officers fired multiple rounds of tear gas at people who began to gather as early as 07:00.
The police also blocked major roads in the capital, causing heavy gridlock and confusion across several parts of the city.
In a post on X, Sowore stated that security operatives had arrested several individuals, including Kanu's family members and legal team, though police have not commented on these reported arrests.
Despite his ongoing struggles with the Nigerian government, Kanu remains a cult hero to many of his supporters, particularly in southeast Nigeria. The IPOB was banned as a terrorist organization in 2017.
Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on terrorism charges but he jumped bail in 2017 following a military raid on his home. The Nigerian government re-arrested him in 2021 after he had previously fled the country.
His legal team plans to start his defense on Thursday after a court discarded their argument that he had no case to answer.
