Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore led residents in Abuja on Monday, demanding the release of detained Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, marking the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.
Speaking at the gathering, Sowore condemned what he described as the government’s habitual use of force against peaceful demonstrators. He also criticised the deployment of soldiers and police against unarmed Nigerians rather than combating insecurity across Nigeria.
“Instead of using the soldiers and our police to fight terrorism in Sambisa, in Zamfara, Katsina, Benue, and Plateau, they are using them on defenceless protesters,” he added.
Sowore noted that the day carried dual significance, a call for Kanu’s freedom and a remembrance of the #EndSARS victims who were killed during the 2020 protests. He led the crowd in a solemn minute of silence.
Emphasising unity and justice, Sowore rejected the framing of Kanu’s detention as an ethnic or religious matter.
“Free Nnamdi Kanu now is not a tribal issue. It is not a religious issue. It is a social justice issue for us,” he declared. “If you look around very well, there are Igbos, Hausas, and Yorubas all united to ensure that our brother is brought back home.”
The activist also linked the rally to broader grievances in the country, citing widespread hardship and political repression warning that Nigerians’ growing frustration could soon translate into even larger demonstrations.