Sowore
A confrontation may be imminent between the Nigeria Police Force and human rights activists over plans to stage a nationwide protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Despite a court order restraining the demonstration, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, and a coalition of civil society organisations have vowed to proceed with the protest scheduled for Monday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has, however, directed his men to be on high alert and ensure strict enforcement of the court order.
He also ordered the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory and other relevant commands to maintain visible deployments across strategic locations in Abuja to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim injunction restraining Sowore, the Take It Back Movement, the #RevolutionNow group, and “persons unknown” from organising or participating in the planned protest.
The order was granted following an ex parte application by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force.
In the ruling, delivered by Justice M. G. Umar, the court barred the groups and individuals from holding or promoting the protest within the Federal Capital Territory. However, Sowore, in multiple posts on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, dismissed the order, insisting that the protest would go ahead.
According to him, the purported court order was obtained “in chambers” and was not a legitimate ruling capable of halting citizens from exercising their constitutional rights.
“The Federal High Court in Abuja has not stopped the proposed #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest slated for Monday, October 20, 2025. What exists is a purported ‘court order’ obtained in chambers by police lawyers, asking that protesters not protest at Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way,” he wrote.
He described the injunction as a ploy to discourage public participation, declaring that “the protest date is sacrosanct; the movement is unstoppable.”
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Sowore maintained that no valid court order was stopping the demonstration.
“It’s false! There is no court order stopping the protest. We have asked the police to produce any such order; they could not. What they claim to have is a protective order for Aso Rock Villa and a few sensitive areas, but they couldn’t even provide that,” he said.
Sowore added that organisers had been mobilising participants across parks, markets, and public spaces for over a week, insisting that the protesters would march to Aso Rock and the National Assembly. Punch
