Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has called for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, urging authorities to ensure he regains his freedom before the Easter celebrations.
Sowore made the demand on Thursday while addressing supporters in Aba, Abia State, during a protest organised under the banner of “Free Nnamdi Kanu 1 Million March.”
Speaking to the crowd that gathered to receive him in the commercial city, the activist criticised the heavy deployment of security personnel in Aba, arguing that such forces would be better utilised in regions battling violent insurgency.
According to him, the large presence of soldiers and other security operatives should be redirected to states experiencing persistent attacks from groups such as Boko Haram and the Lakuwara terrorists.
Sowore, who clarified that he was not among the organisers of the protest, explained that he attended the rally out of his commitment to justice and fairness.
He described Kanu as a leader who deserved freedom, insisting that Nigeria could not progress if citizens were treated unequally based on ethnicity.
“I am only for justice. I don’t care if you are Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. Nigeria cannot thrive when one tribe is treated differently from another,” Sowore told the protesters, adding that Kanu “has suffered enough” and should be allowed to celebrate Easter with his supporters.
