Police Arrests AFP Journalists Covering #FreeNnamdiKanu Protest In Abuja

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested two journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) who were covering the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.

The journalists were identified as Nick Roll, an American, and John Okunyomih, a Nigerian videographer.

According to reports, the two were stationed outside the Transcorp Hotel in Maitama when police officers began firing teargas at protesters.

While filming the incident, the journalists were reportedly confronted by officers who tried to restrain them.

During the altercation, their camera was damaged, their phones were seized, and their teargas protection gear was forcibly removed.

Nick Roll was later released at the scene, while Okunyomih was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the FCT Command before being released hours later.

KanyiDaily recalls that the police also arrested Aloy Ejimakor, one of the lawyers representing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Earlier in the day, officers had fired teargas at commuters in Abuja’s Central Business District as protesters began to gather. Many of those affected were people waiting for transport to work.

The protest, led by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021.