Hundreds of residents of Afarukwu in Abia State, the hometown of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, held a peaceful protest on Monday, calling on the Federal Government to release him.
Kanu, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment on terrorism-related charges by Justice James Omotosho, is currently challenging the conviction at the Court of Appeal. He is being held at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
During the rally, men, women and youths marched through the community, singing solidarity songs in Igbo, including: “Nnamdi Kanu bu onyendu anyi, onyendu ka anyi na-eso,” which translates to, “Nnamdi Kanu is our leader, and he is the man we follow.”
Many of the protesters wore traditional attire, red caps and headgear as they carried a large banner declaring Kanu as the supreme leader of IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra. The banner also featured his image dressed in traditional royal regalia, reflecting his status as a prince of the Afarukwu community.
The procession moved peacefully through the streets, led by traditional rulers and community leaders.
Reacting to the protest, Kanu’s special counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, urged South-East governors to pursue a political solution rather than allowing the matter to remain in the courts.
He said the governors should jointly appeal to President Bola Tinubu to resolve the issue outside the judicial process, arguing that Kanu’s case has always been political.
Kanu’s conviction has continued to generate debate, especially in the South-East, where many legal experts and rights advocates have questioned the judgment.
Supporters of the IPOB leader also point to a 2023 ruling by the Enugu State High Court, which declared the Federal Government’s proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organisation unconstitutional and invalid.
Despite that judgment, federal prosecutors continued with the terrorism case against Kanu, eventually securing his conviction at the Federal High Court in Abuja, which has jurisdiction over such matters.
As his appeal progresses, residents, community leaders and civil society groups in Abia State have continued to call on the Federal Government to seek a political resolution, arguing that such a move would promote peace and stability across the South-East.
