By Achile Danjuma
A coalition of supporters is set to stage a major protest in Aba, Abia State, on Thursday, demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Coalition of Lovers of Freedom, has been branded a “One Million March.” According to a flyer circulated on Wednesday, the group is rallying supporters from across the region to converge on the commercial city for a peaceful show of force.
The protest comes nearly four months after a Federal High Court in Abuja handed Kanu a life sentence on terrorism-related charges. Presiding judge James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution had proven its case, stating that Kanu, a British citizen, used IPOB’s platform to incite attacks on security personnel and civilians in the South-East, as well as during the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Lagos.
Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on treasonable felony charges and has been in detention for the majority of the time since his dramatic re-arrest in Kenya in 2021.
In anticipation of the large-scale gathering, a former member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Obinna Ichita, has issued a passionate plea for restraint and civility. In a statement on Wednesday, Ichita urged demonstrators to prioritize peace and act with discipline.
“As Aba citizens prepare to gather tomorrow, I appeal to all participants to act with responsibility, discipline and civility,” Ichita said. “As a proud Aba indigene, my call is guided by ongoing efforts by responsible leaders to secure a peaceful and constructive resolution. While emotions run high around Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, our strength lies in wisdom, unity and respect for life, property and the rule of law.
“Let us express our concerns peacefully, respect the authority of security operatives and resist any attempt to politicise the gathering.”
The planned march is expected to test the security situation in the South-East, a region that has experienced significant tensions and violence since Kanu’s incarceration and the subsequent military crackdown on IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). It remains unclear how security agencies will respond to the “One Million March,” given the life sentence imposed on the man at the center of the protest.
Kanu’s legal team has filed an appeal challenging the conviction.