The Nigerian Police Force has arrested a prominent lawyer representing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), amid heightened security operations and ongoing unrest in the southeast region.

The lawyer was reportedly taken into custody following allegations linked to the killing of two police officers in Anambra State. The police had earlier declared the lawyer wanted in connection with the incident, a charge his legal team has strongly denied.

The arrest coincides with renewed protests by IPOB supporters in Abuja and other parts of the country, protesting Kanu’s continued detention and trial. Police deployed teargas to disperse demonstrators who blocked major roads in the federal capital.

Nnamdi Kanu, a British-Nigerian, has been on trial since his re-arrest in 2021 on charges including terrorism and treason. His legal team has raised concerns about the fairness of the trial, arguing that some of the laws under which Kanu is being prosecuted have been repealed.

The police’s move to detain Kanu’s lawyer marks an escalation in the government’s crackdown on IPOB and its affiliates. It raises fresh questions about the impact of security measures on legal representation and the rights of defendants.

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As of now, details regarding the specific charges against the lawyer remain unclear, and the legal team is demanding due process and transparency. Observers warn that the arrest could further inflame tensions in the southeast and complicate ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The Nigerian Police Force has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrest.