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| Sowore (l) and Kanu before his arrest |
Activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the Nigerian government for what he describes as political persecution in the prolonged detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking after leading Monday’s “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest in Abuja, Sowore accused the government of deliberately flouting court orders and engaging in a campaign of injustice against the Igbo people.
According to Sowore, Kanu’s detention is not based on terrorism charges but rather his ethnic identity and political activism. He called the incarceration “an act of subjugation” meant to silence dissenting voices.
During an interview with ARISE News, Sowore detailed how security forces used excessive tear gas and forcefully arrested peaceful protesters, including Kanu’s lawyers and his younger brother.
“We faced tear gas and brutal attacks by police all day. We even went to the FCT Police Command to demand the release of some arrested lawyers, only to learn they were transferred to a notorious torture site known as Abattoir,” Sowore revealed.
He slammed the government’s defiance of the 2022 Court of Appeal ruling that ordered Kanu’s release, describing the continued detention as a blatant violation of constitutional rights and justice.
Sowore asserted that the government’s actions reflect intolerance for legitimate political expression and highlighted how the imprisonment aims to punish Kanu for demanding justice for his people.
“The Court of Appeal in 2022 made a decisive ruling that having been extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya — kidnapped, in simple terms — there were no valid charges against him and he should be released,” Sowore said. “That judgment ought to have taken immediate effect, but the Nigerian government refused to honour it. They claimed they were going on appeal, but an appeal does not constitute a stay when personal liberty is involved.”
Sowore insisted that Kanu was not being held for terrorism, but for his ethnic identity and his political opinions.
“Nnamdi Kanu is not being held for committing terrorism. No. He is being held because he is an Igbo man who dared to demand justice for his people,” he said. “The crime he committed is one with a microphone, not an AK-47. The government is punishing him for expressing views that challenge the injustice and inequity in this country.”
The activist said Monday’s protests, which took place across several parts of Abuja, were peaceful until police attacked demonstrators with tear gas and live bullets.
“It wasn’t just a social media protest — we had six protest spots across Abuja, with thousands of people in attendance,” Sowore said. “We were at Utako, Apo, and Gudu. Everywhere we went, the police attacked us ruthlessly. What they’re telling us is that you cannot be peaceful in Nigeria and get away with it. If we were violent or terrorists, they would leave us alone. But because we chose a non-violent approach, they treated us as enemies.”
He added that the government’s fear of protests stems from the broader public frustration with bad governance.
“The traction around this protest was beyond just Nnamdi Kanu,” Sowore said. “People are tired of a system that keeps innocent people in detention while the same government pardons drug dealers, kidnappers, and murderers. Nnamdi Kanu hasn’t committed any known offense, yet he’s kept in perpetual detention, tortured, and harassed.”
The activist compared the Nigerian state to “an open prison,” saying the country was “at war with itself.”
“The larger Nigerian nation is itself an open prison,” he said. “I’ve spent five years here under bogus charges. This country is like Gaza — except Gaza, even during bombardment, has electricity and water. Nigeria is a nation at war with itself. What has been done to Nnamdi Kanu is shameful. Many people who defend it will one day realize the danger of accepting injustice.”
Sowore criticized both northern and southeastern political leaders for their silence and hypocrisy over Kanu’s case.
“I’m ashamed of these southeastern politicians,” he said. “The deputy speaker was asking people not to join peaceful protests. The governors kept quiet. The so-called Ohanaeze leadership asked people to stay away. Even Yoruba leaders who should understand oppression are mocking us. Yet I was the only one who went to court when Sunday Igboho’s house was raided. The same people now look away because their brother is in power.”
Sowore maintained that protests remain an essential part of democratic engagement, insisting that he would continue mobilizing Nigerians to demand justice and accountability.
“If there were no protests in Nigeria, this country would have gone completely to the dogs,” he said. “Every major change we’ve achieved came through protests — from ending military rule to defending human rights. Those who once protested now hate protesters because they’re in power. But this generation won’t stay silent. One day, tear gas and water cannons will no longer stop the people.”
He warned that if the government fails to release Nnamdi Kanu soon, more demonstrations will follow.
“If they don’t release him, there will be a bigger, more massive protest,” Sowore declared. “I’ll give them a period of grace to get their act together, but we will be back.”
The “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest, which saw heavy police presence across Abuja, was aimed at pressing for the release of the IPOB leader who has been in detention for over seven years despite several court orders granting him freedom.
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