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Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has warned that Nigerians should brace up for a fresh wave of nationwide protests if the Federal Government fails to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore made the declaration on Arise News Morning Show on Tuesday, where he accused the government of what he called “selective justice” and “ethnic bias” in Kanu’s prolonged incarceration despite several court rulings ordering his release.
According to him, Kanu is not being held for terrorism as alleged by the authorities, but “for being an Igbo man who dared to speak up.” He described the continued detention as a test of Nigeria’s democracy and rule of law, saying that “no government that disrespects its own courts can claim legitimacy.”
The activist, who recently led a protest in Abuja demanding Kanu’s freedom, said the movement would not relent.
“If they don’t release him, we will be back, bigger, louder, and everywhere,” Sowore stated. He stressed that the demand for Kanu’s release had grown beyond regional sentiment, insisting that “this is now a Nigerian issue, not an Igbo issue.”
Sowore also berated the security agencies for using force to disperse peaceful demonstrators during last week’s protest, describing it as an attempt to silence lawful dissent.
Meanwhile, government sources have maintained that Kanu’s case remains before the court and that any agitation must follow due process. Presidential media aide, Sunday Dare, cautioned that “justice resides in the courts, not through threats or mob actions.”
The continued detention of the IPOB leader, despite multiple court orders granting him bail, has remained a major flashpoint in national discourse. Analysts say Sowore’s renewed call for mass action could reignite civil unrest if not addressed through dialogue.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in 2021 after being extradited from Kenya. His legal team and supporters have consistently maintained that his trial is politically motivated.
Sowore’s warning marks a new phase in what many now see as a broader movement against state repression and disobedience to judicial authority in Nigeria.
