Business activities at the Eda Building Materials Plaza in Jabi, Abuja, were abruptly halted on Monday following a police crackdown on protesters demanding the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters, who had marched through parts of the city including Berger and Utako, gathered at the plaza chanting pro-Biafra slogans and calling for Kanu’s freedom.
Security operatives reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, causing panic among traders and shoppers. Several individuals sustained minor injuries as people fled the area, with many abandoning their shops and goods.
A trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We were not part of the protest. They came and started shooting tear gas everywhere. We had to run for our lives.”
The plaza was subsequently shut down by its management to prevent further escalation, leaving hundreds of traders counting their losses for the day.
There was no official statement from the police as of the time of filing this report.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since June 2021 and is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony.
