16th October 2025, NewsOrient, News, Law And Society, Governance And Development

A civil society organisation committed to justice, human rights, and national stability, Basic Rights Enlightenment Foundation, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria to, as a matter of urgency, release incarcerated leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The foundation warned that continued refusal to release Kanu, who has been discharged by the court, is not only an affront against the rule of law but will certainly deepen citizen’s anger against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria.

A press release signed by
Hon. Dr. Augustine Iheanacho Okechukwu and Mr. Ikechukwu D. Maduike, the
President/Chairman and Secretary- General of the foundation respectively, reads: “As a responsible civil society organisation committed to justice, human rights, and national stability, we are compelled to raise our voice at this critical time.

The Federal Government must take decisive and responsible action by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu without further delay.

The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu is not only unlawful, it is unjust and dangerous for the peace and unity of this country.

In 2022, the Court of Appeal discharged him, yet the Federal Government has refused to honour this ruling.

The ongoing prosecution is widely seen as a political witch-hunt – nothing short of a sham designed to silence a dissenting voice.

Kanu’s continued detention therefore, is not just a legal violation, it’s a moral failure.

We are calling on the government to uphold justice and prevent a repeat of the tragedies of the past.

This matter has long transcended ethnic or regional boundaries. It is no longer “an Igbo issue” – it is a national demand for justice.

The leader of the planned protest on October 20, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, is not Igbo, but he and many others across all regions have joined in demanding Kanu’s release.

This is a clear indication that Nigerians from all walks of life recognize this injustice and are united in seeking redress.

This is no longer about tribe or region. It’s about justice.

The government must listen to the voices of the people before it’s too late.

We wish to categorically state that allowing the October 20 protest to go ahead without addressing this critical demand may plunge the country into avoidable chaos. History is still fresh in our minds – the #EndSARS protest, which started peacefully, ended in bloodshed and destruction. We cannot afford a repeat.

Already, tensions are high, and the signs are clear. If the government remains adamant, it risks inviting a crisis that could once again lead to unnecessary loss of lives and property.

We warn against a heavy-handed response. Deploying security forces (as is likely to happen) who may shoot unarmed civilians or arrest minors, as witnessed during the recent Hunger/Good Governance protest, will only deepen people’s resentment.

The time to act is now.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s health is deteriorating in the custody of the DSS, which has neither the capacity nor the medical facilities to adequately treat his condition. This is a valid and urgent humanitarian ground for his release.

If he dies in detention, the consequences for national peace and unity could be dire.

We are not unaware that foreign interests, opposed to the liberation and enlightenment of the Nigerian people, may be influencing his continued detention.

“The Federal Government must not allow itself to become a tool in the hands of neo-colonial powers.

The interests of the Nigerian people must come first.

We therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the relevant authorities to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu. This is the only logical, lawful, and moral good course of action. Delay is dangerous.

The continued incarceration of a man discharged by the courts is a blight on our democracy and a provocation to the millions who seek justice.

Peaceful protest is a constitutional right, but it must not be allowed to degenerate into chaos due to the government’s refusal to do what is right. The time to prevent that chaos is now.

Nnamdi Kanu must be released – immediately.“

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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