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Demand Tougher Action on South East Insecurity
ABUJA – A coalition of civil society activists under the banner of “Rescue Alaigbo Movement” on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the main gate of National Assembly Complex in Abuja, decrying the worsening insecurity in the South East and rejecting renewed calls for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters, who gathered at the Unity Fountain before marching to the National Assembly, said, freeing Kanu would not end the killings, kidnappings and destruction ravaging the region.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Free the South East from Terror, Not Kanu” and “Stop Politicizing Insecurity”, urging President Bola Tinubu not to bow to political pressure to release Kanu, whom they described as a “symbol hijacked by criminals.”
Addressing journalists during the rally, the convener of the movement, Chika Obinna, said insecurity in the region had been hijacked by criminal gangs exploiting the agitation for Biafra.
“We are here to make it clear that releasing Nnamdi Kanu will not bring peace. What the South East needs is a sustained security strategy to eliminate armed gangs and restore normalcy,” Obinna stated.
He added that the group had written to the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking approval to stage the protest at the National Assembly complex, insisting that their action was peaceful and aimed at promoting national unity.
The protest came amid mounting pressure from several groups, including church leaders, women’s organisations and youth bodies, urging President Tinubu to release Kanu as part of measures to end insecurity in the South East.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State had recently expressed doubts that releasing the IPOB leader would end the crisis, saying many of the armed groups terrorising the region no longer take instructions from Kanu or IPOB.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the DSS since 2021 following his rendition from Kenya, is facing terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although the Court of Appeal discharged him in 2022, the Federal Government has continued to detain him, citing national security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed the protesters’ stance, maintaining that Kanu’s continued detention remains the root cause of instability in the region.
The group said that once its leader is released, those committing crimes in his name would lose public sympathy.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has also announced plans to lead a nationwide protest on October 20, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, to demand Kanu’s release.
The Presidency has, however, condemned the planned protest, describing Sowore as “an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist.”
Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara has thrown his weight behind the planned protest, commending efforts to demand justice and national reconciliation through Kanu’s release.
Security experts have warned that resolving the South East crisis requires more than political gestures, urging both the Federal Government and regional leaders to combine dialogue with decisive law enforcement to restore peace.
