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By Tracy Moses
The protest for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday recorded a low turnout in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, as the absence of commercial vehicles hindered movement within the city.
At the Michael Okpara Square, where the demonstration took off, only a handful of protesters dressed in white gathered peacefully under the watchful eyes of security operatives deployed to maintain order. Despite the heavy police presence, the atmosphere remained calm and coordinated throughout the exercise.
Renewed calls for Kanu’s release follow mounting public concern over his prolonged detention since June 2021, when he was re-arrested and repatriated to Nigeria after fleeing the country in 2017. Kanu, who faces charges bordering on treasonable felony and incitement, has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) despite multiple court rulings, including one by the Court of Appeal in October 2022, which ordered his release.
The Federal Government, however, appealed the ruling, maintaining that Kanu must face trial for his alleged involvement in activities linked to the agitation for Biafra and the resulting insecurity in parts of the South-East.
In recent months, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, and political figures from across the region have intensified appeals for his freedom, arguing that his continued detention undermines peace and reconciliation efforts in the South-East. The latest protest in Umuahia, though modest in scale, underscores growing frustration among pro-Biafra sympathizers who view Kanu’s detention as unjust and politically motivated.
Leading Monday’s protest, the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, Mr. Eugene Okonta, expressed disappointment over the low turnout, attributing it to the difficulty in accessing transportation.
Speaking with Pointblanknews.com, Okonta said:
“There is no large crowd because people couldn’t find vehicles to come out. Some of them have called me to say they’re on their way. Despite the poor turnout, we’ll continue to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We’re not relenting. I wrote to both the Commissioner of Police and the DSS Director, and they assured me of adequate security for this exercise.”
Shortly after, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danladi Isa, arrived at the protest ground, reiterating the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and preventing any breakdown of law and order.
When informed that the protesters intended to march to Government House, Umuahia, to deliver a letter to Governor Alex Otti, the Police Commissioner advised against the move. He directed instead that the letter be handed over to him for onward delivery to the governor, warning against possible hijack of the protest by hoodlums.
“We don’t want miscreants to cash in on this protest and cause mayhem in the state,” Isa cautioned.
Meanwhile, reports from Aba, the commercial hub of the state, indicated that some protesters also took to the streets, demanding Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release. Military trucks were later sighted patrolling major roads in what residents described as a show of force.
Though the turnout was small, the message from Umuahia and Aba was unmistakable, the call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains strong among many in the South-East, who believe that peace in the region cannot be achieved until justice is done.