Northern Youths Demand Nnamdi Kanu’s Release, Warn Detention Could Deepen Nigeria’s Division

By Diafa Doubra,

The Arewa Take-It-Back Movement (ATIB), a coalition of northern youth and civil society groups, has joined growing calls for the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the group said Kanu’s prolonged detention poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity and undermines the rule of law. According to ATIB’s national coordinator, Musa Ibrahim, the continued incarceration of the separatist leader despite multiple court rulings in his favour reflects selective justice and disregard for constitutional rights.

“We believe in justice for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or regional affiliation. Keeping Nnamdi Kanu in detention despite court orders sends the wrong message about equality before the law,” Ibrahim said.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to heed the calls for Kanu’s release and use dialogue rather than repression to address agitations across the country. ATIB also appealed to security agencies to exercise restraint and respect human rights while handling ongoing protests in the South-East.

The call from the northern youth movement adds to mounting pressure on the federal government from human rights activists, legal experts, and ethnic groups demanding Kanu’s freedom as part of efforts to foster peace and national reconciliation.