Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has announced October 20 at 7:00am as the date for what he calls a historic protest march to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sowore shared the announcement on social media, calling on Nigerians to join him in what he described as a peaceful but symbolic march for justice and national conscience. The protest tagged #FreeNnamdiKanu aims to challenge what many citizens see as a deliberate silence from those in power regarding Kanu’s prolonged detention.
Kanu’s case has lingered for years, drawing attention both within and outside Nigeria. Arrested in 2015 for leading the IPOB movement and charged with treason, he was later granted bail but fled the country. In 2021, he was rearrested and brought back to Nigeria in a manner many activists described as an unlawful extradition from Kenya. Since then, court rulings and government appeals have kept his freedom in limbo.
For Sowore, this cause is deeply personal. Known for his bold criticism of successive governments and for surviving multiple arrests himself, he has become a voice for civic resistance. From the #RevolutionNow protests to his presidential ambition under the African Action Congress (AAC), Sowore continues to use his platform to challenge the political establishment.
As October 20 approaches, the question grows louder: will this protest spark a genuine conversation about justice, freedom, and the selective way power is exercised in Nigeria? Or will it be another cry drowned in official silence?