The Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) has warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, to stay off the ordeal of detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The youths said they would not stand by and watch the duo of Atiku and Sowore use the ordeal of the Biafran warlord as chess board to launch their political campaign and set the country on fire. Rather they should wait and allow the due process of the court in the ongoing terrorism trial of the IPOB leader.
National President of the Forum, Comrade Murtala Muhammed Gamji, stated the group’s position at a world press conference held in Abuja, Tuesday, unveiling their plan to stage a counter- rally in support of the reforms of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, beginning from October 20, 2025.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had joined human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore in calling on the federal government to immediately release detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Atiku had, in a post on his X handle, described Kanu’s continued detention as a “stain on Nigeria’s belief in the rule of law.”
Kanu is facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement before the Federal High Court in Abuja, all of which he has consistently denied. He has been in detention for years despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed full support for Sowore’s campaign for Kanu’s release.
He wrote, “The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law. Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice.
“I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by @YeleSowore for his immediate release or due prosecution. We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as yet another wound this nation refuses to heal.”
Sowore had penultimate Wednesday urged South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to join the planned demonstration for Kanu’s release billed for October 20, 2025
He revealed that he had reached out to prominent Igbo figures in the region, including governors, senators, and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to join the movement.
Speaking at the briefing, however, Comrade Gamji said: “We are here to express our anger, dislike and to show the whole world that we are not with desperate politicians in Nigeria, using the detention of Nnamdi Kanu to cause tension in the country.
“The former presidential candidate and owner of SaharaReporter, Mr. Omoleye Sowore, and our father, the former Vice president Atiku Abubakar, are coming to organise a rally to free Nnamdi Kanu. We heard the information, which is legit. We are not with them on this and we say no. For the sake of your selfish interest, you want to use the blood of the Nigerian youths to achieve your aim.
“The greatest mistake they are making is that, the day they are coming out is the day more than 63 million young, vibrant Northern youths are coming out to plead with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to continue with his good work that he is doing.
“We are taking over the entire streets of Abuja from the 20th, 21st to 23rd of October in solidarity with President Tinubu,” he said.
