South-East Youths Mobilise Peaceful Protest as Coalition Demands Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

• South-East Youth Leaders back a peaceful march calling for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, citing double standards and injustice in detention.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), a socio-political youth organisation in Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone, has expressed strong support for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The group said it was fully prepared to hold a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with the embattled IPOB leader. (source)

According to The PUNCH, activist Omoyele Sowore has called on South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to join the planned demonstration for Kanu’s release.

Sowore revealed that he had reached out to several high-profile Igbo leaders, including Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to join the movement.

He also disclosed that he contacted Atiku Abubakar through his team, noting that the former vice president’s support would give significant weight to the campaign.

DON’T MISS: ADC Reacts to Tinubu’s Nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan as New INEC Chairman

Reacting to the issue, the organisation’s President General, Goodluck Ibem, said in an exclusive statement shared with Sunday PUNCH that the coalition was committed to organising a peaceful protest to demand Kanu’s release from Department of State Services (DSS) detention.

Ibem accused the Federal Government of showing double standards in handling national security and human rights cases. He pointed out that while the country has witnessed negotiations with known terrorist kingpins from the North—individuals responsible for the deaths of countless citizens and the destruction of communities—Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention.

He stressed, “This inequity raises serious questions about the motives behind his continued detention, especially given his deteriorating health condition. We believe his incarceration is not merely a legal issue but reflects broader systemic injustices faced by the Igbo people.”

Ibem further noted that Kanu’s imprisonment undermines peace, unity, and dialogue in addressing regional and national challenges. (source)

He called on members, allies, and the general public to join the peaceful protest, adding that it would demonstrate the South-East youths’ unwavering demand for justice.

“We urge all Nigerians who believe in justice, equity, and fundamental human rights to stand with us in this noble cause,” he declared.