Confusion has gripped parts of Nigeria’s southeast ahead of Monday’s proposed nationwide protest demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Although the #RevolutionNow movement, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, plans to stage the demonstration in Abuja, rumour-fuelled tension has spread across the southeast, with some schools closing and residents debating whether to stay home.
Despite no formal sit-at-home directive from any group, talk of a “no movement order” has circulated, allegedly in solidarity with the Abuja protest. Business owners and civil servants in the region remain uncertain about whether to open for the day.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has urged the Federal Government to “cover the stinking shame” of prolonged detention by freeing Kanu immediately. The group reaffirmed its decision to join the nationwide peaceful protest, insisting there was “no going back” on solidarity for the separatist leader.
MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel, criticised the government’s alleged double standards, questioning why it negotiates with bandits and Boko Haram militants but refuses dialogue with Kanu. He accused the Tinubu administration of showing “pathological hatred” towards the southeast, saying Kanu’s continued detention highlights unequal treatment across regions.
The group also warned the Imo State Police Command to stop linking former leader Ralph Uwazuruike with its operations, clarifying that he now leads the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) after being expelled in 2015. MASSOB restated its commitment to a non-violent struggle for Biafra’s sovereignty.
In a related development, Anambra State Police Command said it has conducted a security review following intelligence on planned protests. Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga reported that residents were opting for dialogue and peaceful engagement, adding that security forces were on high alert to maintain peace and protect law-abiding citizens.
