Protesters Condemns South-East Insecurity, Oppose Calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

Protesters Condemns South-East Insecurity, Oppose Calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

A group of Nigerians took to the streets outside the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, decrying the escalating insecurity in the South-East and urging President Bola Tinubu and lawmakers to resist pressure to halt the ongoing terrorism trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The protesters, organized under the Rescue Alaigbo banner, wore T-shirts emblazoned with “End South-East Violence” and carried placards displaying images of victims killed in recent attacks by gunmen in the region.The group condemned campaigns for Kanu’s release, accusing opposition figures of exploiting the IPOB leader’s detention for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections. “We demand justice for our people killed by bandits, not the release of someone whose actions have fueled this crisis,” said convener Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, referencing the violence linked to IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN). The South-East has seen over 150 civilian deaths and 40 security personnel killed in 2025 alone, with recent attacks including a deadly ambush in Okigwe, Imo State, and a vigilante outpost assault in Anambra.Kanu, detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his 2021 extradition from Kenya, faces a seven-count charge of terrorism-related activities. His trial has sparked polarized debates, with opposition leaders like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar calling his detention “a grave violation of the rule of law” and endorsing activist Omoyele Sowore’s October 20 “Freedom March” for Kanu’s release. Atiku, in a statement on October 9, decried the government’s defiance of court-ordered bail as “an abuse of power.”On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, rejected claims of Kanu’s deteriorating health after a Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) panel, ordered by the court, concluded his ailment was not life-threatening. The panel’s report, submitted October 13 and read in court, deemed Kanu fit to stand trial. Justice Omotosho dismissed Kanu’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution’s evidence bolstered by ex-IPOB members’ testimonies warranted a defense. The court scheduled six consecutive days from October 23 for Kanu to present his case.In response to concerns from Kanu’s legal team, led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), about DSS surveillance during consultations, Justice Omotosho granted a private meeting for Kanu and his lawyers in the courtroom on October 22 from 9 a.m. to noon, ensuring no DSS interference. The trial will resume the following day.The protest, held under heavy security, shows deep divisions as Rescue Alaigbo’s petition to the National Assembly called for intensified military action and community policing to curb South-East violence. “Kanu’s trial must proceed without political meddling,” Ofoegbu insisted, contrasting with Sowore’s rally, backed by groups like Ohanaeze Youth Council, which frames Kanu’s detention as selective injustice. 

Source: Protesters Condemns South-East Insecurity, Oppose Calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

 - NigerianEye

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