BREAKING: Nigerian Police Order Operatives Nationwide To Monitor, Resist #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protesters On Monday

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a directive ordering heightened security measures across the country ahead of planned demonstrations on Monday, October 20, 2025, calling for the unconditional release of detained Biafran leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The wireless message, issued by the Force Headquarters in Abuja and circulated to zonal and command levels nationwide, warned that some "unscrupulous elements"  had finalised plans to stage protests in the Federal Capital Territory that may spread to other states. 

The directive, obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, instructed commanders to deploy covert personnel, keep tactical units on standby in full kit, confine other officers to barracks where necessary, and begin the orders with effect from Sunday, October 19 until further notice. 

The police also ordered hourly situation reports from commands. 

The statement read, "GENERAL X INTEL AT INGENPOL DISPOSAL REAVEAL THAT X SOME UNSCRUPULOUS ELEMENTS X HAVE CONCLUDED PLANS TO CARRY OUT A PROTEST IN ABUJA X WITH ANTICIPATION THAT IT WILL EXTEND TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY X ON MONDAY 20/10/2025 X SEEKING UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT X NIGPOL DOPS DIRECTS X YOU EMPLACE ADEQUATE SECURITY MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT HOODLUMS/MISCREANTS DO NOT CAUSE MAYHEM ON LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AND THEIR PROPERTIES X ANY ATTEMPT BY THEM TO ENGAGE IN DESTRUCTION OF LIVES AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE PROMPTLY RESISTED X.

"YOU ARE FURTHER DEIRECTED TO DEPLOY COVERT OPERATIVES TO ALL NOOKS AND CRANNIES YOURS X FOR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING/SHARING X YOU SHOULD USE POLICE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE X TO PROFESSIONALLY MANAGE THE PLANNED PROTEST X COMPOLS SHOULD DIRECT OFFICERS/MEN TO BE AT RED ALERT X MAINTAIN WELL KITTED STANDBY MEN AT COMMAND HQTS X AREA COMMANDS X DIVISIONAL POLICE HQTS X TO FORESTALL ANY BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER X YOU ARE FURTHER DIRECTED TO RENDER HOURLY SITREP X MODE OF DRESS X CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM X TACTICAL UNITS TO USE BALLISTIC HELMETS X WHILE PERSONNEL FOR COVERT OPERATIONS X OTHER SPECIALIZED SECTIONS X SHOULD APPEAR IN THEIR APPROVED DRESS/UNIFORM X W.E.F SUNDAY 19/10/2025 TILL STAND DOWN ORDER IS GIVEN X ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT AND ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE PLEASE XXXXXXXXXXX."

Meanwhile, the police directive followed the mass public mobilisation for the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration organised by human rights activists and lawyers including Omoyele Sowore and several pro-Biafran groups. 

Organisers said the protest aims to press government authorities over Kanu’s continued detention; courts have recently been involved in attempts to limit or regulate the planned action. 

On Friday the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected the police applications seeking to stop the demonstration, a development that fuelled both mobilisation and official concern.

Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, in a post on his X account had also said, “Rather than engage with the legitimate and peaceful demands of citizens, the police are turning their energy toward internal repression and fear tactics, a clear sign that the movement’s message has struck a nerve.” 

The former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) had added, “The people are awake, and the movement remains unstoppable.” 

The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, to be held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja has become a nationwide demonstration aimed at demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 

Kanu has been in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial re-arrest in 2021, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya. 

Despite several court rulings ordering his release, the Nigerian government has continued to detain him on charges related to treasonable felony and alleged incitement.

The protest is being coordinated by Sowore in conjunction with human rights groups, pro-democracy activists, and civil society organisations. 

Supporters say the protest would be peaceful and would serve as a call for justice, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental human rights. 

International missions and foreign governments have also reacted to the planned protest. 

The United States Embassy in Abuja issued an advisory warning U.S. citizens of potential disruptions, roadblocks and the risk of confrontations around Eagle Square and the central business district on October 20, and urged people to avoid demonstration routes.