A coalition of activists under the banner of Rescue Alaigbo staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Thursday, October 16, 2025, faulting growing calls for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters, numbering a few dozen, carried placards displaying images of victims of attacks in the South East and urged President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly not to yield to political pressure to discontinue Kanu’s prosecution.
They argued that freeing the separatist leader would not automatically end insecurity in the region.
The demonstration followed a letter dated October 14, 2025, in which the group notified the Department of State Services (DSS) of its plan to hold the protest.
The letter, signed by the group’s convener, Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, also known as Ijele Speaks, said the protest aimed to “defend the rights of victims of violent attacks” and oppose what it described as “politically motivated campaigns to obstruct justice.”
During the protest, Rescue Alaigbo members accused pro-Biafra agitators of hijacking Kanu’s detention to justify lawlessness in the region.
They said criminal gangs and impostors now operate under the guise of agitation, carrying out kidnappings, killings, and arson across the South East.
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Their demonstration came ahead of another planned march by activist Omoyele Sowore and his Free Nnamdi Kanu Movement, scheduled for Monday, October 20, to demand Kanu’s unconditional release, a campaign also supported by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some Igbo diaspora organisations.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Kanu is fit to stand trial and has fixed October 23, 2025, as the date for him to open his defence before Justice James Omotosho, after dismissing a no-case submission filed by his legal team.
Several regional leaders have also weighed in on the controversy. Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo reiterated that releasing Kanu may not immediately resolve insecurity in the South East, noting that many violent actors are no longer taking orders from IPOB’s hierarchy.
Despite the polarised opinions, residents across parts of the South East continue to call for practical measures to restore peace and protect civilians, including disarming militias and rebuilding local security networks.