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| Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of pro-Biafra group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) |
ABUJA — Citizens and activist groups across Nigeria are mobilizing for protests planned for October 20, 2025, in Abuja and other parts of the country, demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Mr. Kanu, a prominent separatist figure, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021. His arrest remains a point of international controversy, following what his supporters and court documents describe as an extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
The planned demonstrations have gained momentum following continued calls from various quarters for the Federal Government to obey a court order. In October 2022, the Court of Appeal issued a judgment acquitting Mr. Kanu of all terrorism charges and ordering his immediate release, a decision the government has refused to implement.
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| Omoyele Sowore |
Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, a key figure behind the protest call, has harshly criticized the government. He accused the administration of illegally detaining Mr. Kanu after failing to secure a conviction on the charges against him.
The call for Mr. Kanu's release has found support beyond the pro-Biafra movement. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other political figures have pointed to the Court of Appeal's ruling, calling the continued imprisonment a violation of the rule of law.
The situation has also raised security concerns. Albert Ekong, an Abuja-based security expert who spoke to Gazette Africa, issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of keeping Mr. Kanu in detention.
“Keeping Nnamdi Kanu in detention is a grave mistake that we must acknowledge. If any harm comes to him, it will provoke a serious armed conflict,” Ekong stated.
He also warned that the government risks triggering a serious crisis if security forces again open fire on protesters demanding the release of the separatist leader.