Abuja descended into hours-long gridlock on Monday as the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest led to massive security barricades across key routes. Thousands of commuters were stranded as police and military enforced movement restrictions around Aso Rock and the National Assembly
#FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest Causes Major Gridlock in Abuja as Security Forces Enforce Lockdown
Thousands of commuters were stranded across Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, on Monday morning following the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, which triggered hours of severe gridlock and heavy security lockdown along major routes.
Security checkpoints and barricades mounted by the police, military, and other security agencies brought traffic to a standstill on key highways including Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba, Mpappe, Dei-Dei, Dutse, Bwari, and Kubwa, leaving thousands of residents stuck on their way to work and official duties.
From as early as 7:00 a.m., long queues of vehicles stretched for several kilometres along the Nyanya-Karu axis, as security operatives restricted movement toward the Berger Roundabout, Wuse, Aso Rock, the Federal Secretariat, and the Central Business District (CBD).
Witnesses told Newsheadline247 that many motorists heading into the city were forced to turn back or park by the roadside, while others trekked long distances as officers diverted traffic and maintained heightened patrols around Eagle Square, Shehu Shagari Way, and the National Assembly Complex.
The demonstration, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, was spearheaded by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who called for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The protest follows renewed calls from civil rights groups and activists for the Federal Government to comply with court orders granting Kanu bail and release.
Last week, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had directed officers to strictly enforce existing court orders restricting protests around sensitive government areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, protests are prohibited near Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, Eagle Square, Shehu Shagari Way, and Force Headquarters, following a Federal High Court order that bars public gatherings around these strategic zones.
“Protesters and counter-protest groups are advised to avoid restricted zones and to channel their grievances through lawful and peaceful means,” Hundeyin said in the statement.
By mid-morning, movement into the Central Area and Three Arms Zone remained partially restricted, with armoured vehicles and heavy police patrols positioned at multiple intersections and government premises.
Many workers who had set out for offices in the city centre were forced to return home, while others trekked long distances under the scorching sun to reach their destinations.
“I left Mararaba at 6:30 a.m. and didn’t move more than one kilometre in two hours,” said Ifeanyi Okoro, a civil servant caught in the gridlock. “There were soldiers and police everywhere, and people just abandoned their cars.”
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest marks one of the largest coordinated demonstrations in Abuja in recent months, heightening tensions amid growing public demands for justice and government accountability.
As of the time of filing this report, security presence remained heavy across the Federal Capital Territory, while normal traffic flow had yet to resume in most areas. Read More
