Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the police of using teargas to disperse peaceful protesters in Abuja on Monday.

Ejimakor claimed in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, saying he was among a large crowd that gathered in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel for the #MNKOct20 rally when police officers began firing teargas canisters into the air.

“I’m in front of Transcorp Hilton with a mammoth crowd that gathered for #MNKOct20, and the police just exploded teargas. My eyes and throat hurt. They’re scattering everywhere,” he wrote.

He said the teargas irritated his eyes and throat as people fled the scene in panic.

The protesters had converged to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.

Monday’s demonstration formed part of renewed calls from Kanu’s supporters urging the Federal Government to obey multiple court rulings ordering his release.