{"id":9065,"date":"2025-10-20T12:37:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=9065"},"modified":"2025-10-20T12:38:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:38:17","slug":"video-sowore-accuses-security-operatives-of-attacking-peaceful-freennamdikanu-protesters-in-abuja-with-a-live-bullet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/10\/20\/video-sowore-accuses-security-operatives-of-attacking-peaceful-freennamdikanu-protesters-in-abuja-with-a-live-bullet\/","title":{"rendered":"Video; Sowore Accuses Security Operatives of Attacking Peaceful #FreeNnamdiKanu Protesters in Abuja with A Live Bullet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"259\" data-end=\"451\">Human rights activist <strong data-start=\"281\" data-end=\"299\">Omoyele Sowore<\/strong> has accused Nigerian security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters during Monday\u2019s <strong data-start=\"414\" data-end=\"433\">#FreeNnamdiKanu<\/strong> rally in Abuja.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"259\" data-end=\"451\">\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LIVE BREAKING NEWS: Police Take Over Abuja Roads As &#039;FREE NNAMDI KANU NOW&#039; PROTEST Gathers Momentum\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y9rDUrhyxdw?feature=oembed&#038;wmode=opaque\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"453\" data-end=\"640\">Speaking on <em data-start=\"465\" data-end=\"484\">The Morning Brief<\/em> on Channels Television, Sowore alleged that security forces opened fire shortly after the demonstration began in front of the <strong data-start=\"611\" data-end=\"637\">Transcorp Hilton Hotel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"642\" data-end=\"845\">According to him, several individuals were arrested, including <strong data-start=\"705\" data-end=\"738\">Nnamdi Kanu\u2019s younger brother<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"757\">his lawyer<\/strong>, both of whom were allegedly beaten before being taken to the <strong data-start=\"820\" data-end=\"842\">FCT Police Command<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Protest: Live Bullets Were Fired At Us, Nnamdi Kanu\u2019s Brother Beaten, Arrested - Sowore\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-YH4dgGmvU0?feature=oembed&#038;wmode=opaque\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<blockquote data-start=\"847\" data-end=\"1057\">\n<p data-start=\"849\" data-end=\"1057\">\u201cEventually, they did arrest some people. I heard Nnamdi Kanu\u2019s younger brother was arrested and beaten, and his lawyer was also arrested and beaten. They\u2019ve all been taken to the FCT Command,\u201d Sowore said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"1059\" data-end=\"1193\">He further described the situation as chaotic, claiming that about ten security trucks arrived at the protest site just as it began.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1195\" data-end=\"1396\">\n<p data-start=\"1197\" data-end=\"1396\">\u201cThere was no provocation on our part. It was an orderly and peaceful protest. Suddenly, they started shooting at us \u2014 tear gas and even live bullets were fired. Luckily, nobody was hit,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"1398\" data-end=\"1515\">Sowore alleged that a <strong data-start=\"1420\" data-end=\"1486\">combined team of the police, army, and civil defence personnel<\/strong> carried out the operation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1517\" data-end=\"1629\">Despite the heavy-handed response, he confirmed that live rounds injured no member of his protest team.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1636\" data-end=\"1678\">Heavy Security Presence Across Abuja<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1680\" data-end=\"1847\">Earlier in the day, security operatives had taken positions around major routes leading to the <strong data-start=\"1775\" data-end=\"1797\">Presidential Villa<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1799\" data-end=\"1815\">Eagle Square<\/strong>, and the <strong data-start=\"1825\" data-end=\"1844\">Three Arms Zone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1849\" data-end=\"2100\">Our correspondent observed that all access roads to the <strong data-start=\"1905\" data-end=\"1928\">Federal Secretariat<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1933\" data-end=\"1952\">Three Arms Zone<\/strong> were barricaded. The <strong data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"1992\">Unity Fountain<\/strong>, the initial gathering point for protesters, was sealed off, with motorists and pedestrians denied entry.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2102\" data-end=\"2378\">Elsewhere in the city, a joint team of soldiers and police officers fired tear gas at a crowd near the <strong data-start=\"2205\" data-end=\"2255\">Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat<\/strong> in <strong data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2268\">Utako<\/strong>. Witnesses said the crowd was not part of the protest but quickly dispersed as security personnel moved in.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2385\" data-end=\"2417\">Protest Defies Court Order<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2419\" data-end=\"2661\">The protest defied an <strong data-start=\"2441\" data-end=\"2463\">interim injunction<\/strong> by <strong data-start=\"2467\" data-end=\"2492\">Justice Mohammed Umar<\/strong> of the Federal High Court, which restricted demonstrations around sensitive government areas, including <strong data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2609\">Aso Rock<\/strong>, the <strong data-start=\"2615\" data-end=\"2636\">National Assembly<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"2642\" data-end=\"2658\">Eagle Square<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2663\" data-end=\"2817\">Police had earlier warned that any group violating the order would face arrest and that digital evidence would be used to track social media incitement.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2819\" data-end=\"3036\">Sowore, however, dismissed the validity of the order, arguing that it unfairly targeted pro-Kanu groups while sparing others. He said\u00a0<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">that over\u00a0<strong>100 lawyers<\/strong> were ready to challenge the injunction once it was\u00a0<\/span>formally served.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3043\" data-end=\"3081\">Background: The Nnamdi Kanu Case<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3272\"><strong data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3098\">Nnamdi Kanu<\/strong>, the self-acclaimed leader of the <strong data-start=\"3133\" data-end=\"3171\">Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)<\/strong>, was re-arrested in <strong data-start=\"3192\" data-end=\"3209\">Kenya in 2021<\/strong> and extradited to Nigeria under controversial circumstances.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3274\" data-end=\"3413\">Recently, the Federal High Court dismissed his <strong data-start=\"3321\" data-end=\"3343\">no-case submission<\/strong>, paving the way for his trial on <strong data-start=\"3377\" data-end=\"3398\">terrorism charges<\/strong> to continue.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3415\" data-end=\"3563\">His lawyers have since raised concerns over his <strong data-start=\"3463\" data-end=\"3487\">deteriorating health<\/strong> and requested that he be transferred to the <strong data-start=\"3532\" data-end=\"3560\">National Hospital, Abuja<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3565\" data-end=\"3702\">Several <strong data-start=\"3573\" data-end=\"3595\">South-East leaders<\/strong> and civil society groups continue to advocate for his release as a step toward easing regional tensions.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3709\" data-end=\"3733\">Echoes of #EndSARS<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3735\" data-end=\"3894\">Monday\u2019s protest also coincided with the <strong data-start=\"3776\" data-end=\"3822\">fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement<\/strong>, which called for police reform and justice for victims of brutality.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3896\" data-end=\"4031\">Many Nigerians marked the date in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the <strong data-start=\"3983\" data-end=\"4002\">Lekki Toll Gate<\/strong> shootings in October 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has accused Nigerian security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters during Monday\u2019s #FreeNnamdiKanu rally in Abuja. Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Sowore alleged&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9065"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9067,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9065\/revisions\/9067"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}