Abuja, 20 October 2025 — The Federal Capital Territory once again witnessed scenes of unrest as activist and politician Omoyele Sowore led a march demanding the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. What was billed as a “peaceful demonstration” quickly turned chaotic when security operatives deployed tear gas and dispersed the gathering near the Transcorp Hilton and Unity Fountain areas.
The Nigeria Police Force had earlier issued clear warnings: no protest would be allowed near Aso Villa, the National Assembly, or any other high-security installations. A court order reinforced those restrictions. Yet, the organisers, defiant, pushed ahead — setting up an unnecessary clash between law enforcement and demonstrators.
A Predictable Outcome
The events of the day were not spontaneous; they were predictable. The police had drawn a firm line. Protesters were told where not to go, and the consequences were spelled out in advance. When some elements attempted to move toward the restricted zone, the tear gas came — as promised.
Security analysts have since pointed out that the police displayed a degree of restraint and professionalism, avoiding excessive force and quickly containing the protest before it could escalate into violence. For a country where demonstrations have often spiralled into destruction, that restraint matters. The police’s pre-emptive deployments across strategic routes — Berger Roundabout, Utako, and the Three Arms Zone — prevented a potential breakdown of order.
Yet, the real question is: what exactly was this protest meant to achieve?
A Cause Hijacked by Ego
Sowore’s loud rhetoric about freedom and justice stood on shaky ground. His involvement in the agitation for Kanu’s release appears less about solidarity and more about visibility. His history of self-promotion through confrontational politics precedes him.
Sowore is not Igbo, has no organic political base in the South-East, and historically, his activism has centred on anti-government spectacle rather than constructive engagement. The absence of any major Igbo political or traditional leader at the protest speaks volumes. If this were truly a regional or humanitarian outcry, it would have been led by those directly connected to Kanu’s cause.
Instead, Nigerians watched a one-man show disguised as a movement. The optics were wrong — an outsider using an ethnic cause as a megaphone for relevance. And the consequences were predictable: confrontation, dispersal, and yet another round of headlines with little substance.
Democracy and Discipline
Protest is part of democracy — but democracy without discipline becomes disorder. Even international observers have consistently drawn the line between peaceful dissent and reckless provocation.
As former U.S. President Barack Obama reminded world leaders at the United Nations:
“There is no speech that justifies mindless violence. A politics based only on anger not only sets back international cooperation; it ultimately undermines those who tolerate it.”
Those words are worth remembering. Democracy is not strengthened by chaos; it is deepened by dialogue and lawful civic engagement. Sowore’s deliberate defiance of a court order is not bravery — it is opportunism masked as activism.
If the goal was truly to help Nnamdi Kanu, then due process, not confrontation, is the viable path. Kanu’s trial for treason and terrorism-related charges remains ongoing. Audio recordings allegedly featuring his voice calling for violence against the President and his family have gone viral. These are serious allegations under any government. A call for clemency, not unconditional release, would have been a more responsible — and realistic — approach.
History Repeats Itself
Nigeria’s history with street protests is long and painful. From the Occupy Nigeria movement in 2012 to the EndSARS protests of 2020, we have seen legitimate causes hijacked by chaos. Each time, the result has been the same: citizens pay the price while the instigators retreat to comfort.
Sowore’s protest followed that pattern — emotion without strategy, noise without negotiation. A responsible activist learns from history; Sowore seems intent on repeating it.
Law, Order and Responsibility
The Constitution guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly. But that freedom does not license confrontation with security agencies, trespass into restricted zones, or defiance of judicial orders. Peaceful protest ends where public safety and lawful boundaries begin.
Maina Kiai, former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association, captured the balance perfectly:
“The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association unequivocally include the right to assemble and associate for political purposes. The former is democracy at work; the latter is how autocracies work.”
In other words, democracy requires responsibility — not anarchy disguised as activism. Sowore’s brand of defiance blurs that line dangerously.
The Futility of Confrontation
Protest, to be effective, must have structure, leadership, and legitimacy. None of these was evident in Abuja. Even many of Kanu’s sympathisers in the South-East have distanced themselves from this demonstration, calling it “poorly timed” and “counterproductive.”
Without regional leadership — governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers — the agitation lacked credibility. It was a protest without purpose, a disruption staged more for attention than advocacy.
Police Professionalism and Public Perception
To their credit, the Nigerian Police maintained control with minimal physical clashes. Their restraint contrasts with past incidents where protests degenerated into violence. However, isolated reports of tear gas drifting into markets and offices highlight the need for tactical precision. Innocent civilians must never become collateral damage.
Nonetheless, given the volatility of Nigeria’s protest landscape, the handling of Monday’s event will likely be seen as an example of measured enforcement. The message was clear: dissent is permitted, but lawlessness is not.
The Need for Genuine Leadership
The call for Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom should not be drowned by the noise of opportunism. What Nigeria needs now is a credible coalition of Igbo political, civic, and religious leaders willing to engage the Federal Government in structured dialogue — not street theatre led by outsiders seeking relevance.
Patriotism today means choosing reason over rage. It means understanding that while emotion fuels activism, only discipline achieves progress. Nigeria’s fragile democracy cannot afford endless cycles of provocation and policing.
Sowore’s Misguided Showmanship: Turning Kanu’s Case Into A Personal Crusade For A Man On Trial For Treason.
The viral video of Nnamdi Kanu calling for violence — urging followers to attack police and military officers and threatening to “burn down Nigeria” — is deeply disturbing. This is the man facing treason and terrorism charges, not a victim of political persecution. Against such evidence, Omoyele Sowore’s loud campaign for Kanu’s unconditional release raises serious questions about motive, judgment, and responsibility. True activism seeks justice, not anarchy. Demanding freedom for someone who publicly promoted violence is an insult to every Nigerian security officer who risks life daily for national unity. No one should glorify criminal incitement under the guise of democracy.
Fact Check: Did Nnamdi Kanu Incite Violence or Not?
Videos and audio recordings circulating online allegedly feature Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, issuing inflammatory statements that encouraged attacks on national leaders — including calls to harm the President and his family. These materials form part of the treason and terrorism charges he currently faces in court. Meanwhile, Simon Ekpa, another separatist agitator, has been imprisoned abroad for related incitements. Against this backdrop, Omoyele Sowore’s demand for Kanu’s unconditional release appears reckless and self-serving. If due process is ongoing, bypassing the judiciary for street theatrics is not activism — it’s self-aggrandisement that undermines justice and national security. Genuine advocacy seeks truth and law, not attention.
Conclusion
Omoyele Sowore’s Abuja protest failed not because of police action, but because it lacked moral clarity and strategic purpose. It was an act of self-promotion, not service; confrontation, not conviction.
In every democracy, dissent has its place — but it must be lawful, peaceful, and purposeful. Those who defy these principles only weaken their cause and embolden the forces they claim to fight.
The lesson from today’s events is clear: if your cause is just, the law will defend you; if your method is reckless, it will destroy you. Sowore’s attempt to weaponise protest for personal visibility serves as a cautionary tale — that activism without responsibility is not courage, but chaos.
As Nigeria continues to evolve democratically, it must learn to separate principled protest from performative agitation. For the sake of national unity, stability, and true justice, Nigerians must reject empty spectacle and choose substance over noise.
Princess G. Adebajo-Fraser MFR.
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special Publication.
