Nigerian police fire tear gas as protesters gather over separatist leader

Nigerian police fired tear gas at protesters who had gathered in the capital Abuja to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, a separatist leader detained on terrorism charges since 2021. The protesters were marching to the Nigerian Supreme Court, where they planned to submit a petition calling for Kanu's release. Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of the Igbo-dominated southeastern region of Nigeria. His arrest and ongoing detention have sparked widespread protests and unrest in the region. The police's use of tear gas to disperse the protesters has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who have called for the peaceful resolution of the situation through dialogue and the due process of law. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and unrest in Nigeria, as the government continues to grapple with secessionist movements and demands for greater autonomy and self-determination from various regions of the country.