Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of attempting to intimidate organisers of the upcoming #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Monday, October 21, 2025.
Sowore, who is also the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, made the allegation in a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, titled “The Drama at the FCT Command This Morning.”
According to Sowore, the FCT Police Command had invited Barrister Maxwell Opara, one of the organisers and a lawyer representing the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for a discussion about the planned demonstration.
“Upon our arrival at the Command’s entrance, we were abruptly stopped by officers stationed at the gate, who claimed the new Commissioner of Police was resuming duty and could not receive visitors until after his resumption rituals,” Sowore said.
He narrated that after being allowed entry, they met SUPOL Habib Mohammed, who acknowledged receiving a formal letter from the organisers seeking police protection for the protest. However, the tone of the meeting reportedly changed after a phone call, and they were later directed to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department.
Sowore said the DCP expressed surprise at his presence and denied that any invitation was extended to him personally. The meeting, according to him, ended on a polite note.
However, tension allegedly heightened when Barrister Opara arrived for his own session with the police.
“The officer issued a veiled threat, warning that Barrister Opara would be held responsible if anything goes wrong anywhere in Abuja on Monday,” Sowore claimed.
“Barrister Opara reminded them that this was precisely why the organisers had formally notified the police — to ensure a peaceful and lawful protest,” he added.
Sowore further alleged that shortly after the meeting, police authorities began exploring legal measures to stop the protest.
“Not long after we left the Command, the IGP directed police lawyers to obtain a court order to stop the protest. Although a ‘limited-purpose’ order was reportedly issued, it has not been served on the organisers,” he said.
Despite these developments, Sowore maintained that the demonstration would go ahead as planned.
“The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest is unstoppable. We are proceeding peacefully, lawfully, and with unwavering resolve,” he declared.
The protest, organised by human rights and pro-democracy activists, aims to pressure the federal government to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in Department of State Services (DSS) custody since June 2021 following his arrest and extradition from Kenya.
Kanu faces charges bordering on treasonable felony and incitement, despite multiple court rulings — including a 2022 Court of Appeal judgment — ordering his release. The government has, however, cited national security concerns as justification for his continued detention.
Organisers have reiterated that the planned protest would remain peaceful and conducted strictly within the confines of the law.
