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Five Major Reasons Many Are Calling For Release Of Nnamdi Kanu From Prison

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
There is a widespread belief that releasing Nnamdi Kanu could pave the way for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding issues in the southeastern region.
For quite a while, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has been detained and the continued detention has been a basis for widespread debate and controversy in Nigeria.
Several leaders from the Southeastern region have been urging the Federal Government to release Kanu, including the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party – Mr Peter Obi, even as security concerns within the region deepens.
In a recent move, the South-East Governors resolved to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to discuss possibilities for Kanu’s release even though the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says the offence of the detained IPOB leader is a difficult one and can only be resolved by a competent court of law.
Following the persistent calls for Kanu’s freedom, here are five compelling reasons why many believe he should be released from prison, focusing on human rights, the potential for dialogue and peace, legal fairness, political stability, and strong public sentiment.
1. Human Rights Concerns
For activists, Nnamdi Kanu’s prolonged detention raises significant human rights issues. Many believe his rights to freedom of speech and assembly have been violated. International human rights organizations have at various points called for his release, emphasizing the need for fair treatment and adherence to the rule of law.
2. Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution
There is a widespread belief that releasing Nnamdi Kanu could pave the way for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding issues in the southeastern region. Proponents of this idea suggest that Kanu’s release could help de-escalate tensions and foster a more constructive conversation between the government and pro-Biafra groups.
3. Legal and Judicial Fairness
There have been concerns about the legality and fairness of Kanu’s arrest and detention. Critics argue that his trial has been marred by legal irregularities and that releasing him would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to upholding judicial fairness and due process.
4. Political Stability
Nnamdi Kanu’s detention has been a source of unrest and agitation within the South East. There are many who are of the opinion that his release could help calm the situation, reduce protests and violence, and contribute to overall political stability in Nigeria. According to those who push this idea, Kanu’s release could also improve relations between the government and the southeastern populace.
5. Public Sentiment and Pressure
There is significant public support for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, both domestically and internationally. It is thought in certain quarters that releasing him could address public grievances and demonstrate that the government is responsive to the concerns of its citizens, potentially boosting its credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of the people.
Kanu has been seeking legal means to regain his freedom, however, a recent fundamental human rights suit which his legal team instituted against the Federal Government was dismissed by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Service for ₦1bn in damages for alleged rights violations.
The IPOB leader claimed that the DSS and its director general violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him while he was being detained in preparation for his defence in his criminal
While delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho, held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims, that the IPOB leader’s interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, and that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers, and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to a fair hearing.
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PHOTOS: Glamour as dignitaries, royals attend Alaafin’s coronation

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Dignitaries from across the nation gathered at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, on Saturday to witness the coronation of the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade
The historic event drew a distinguished crowd, including President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; former Deputy Governor, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Debo Ogundoyin; and Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo South, among other notable figures.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I and his Wife Abiwumi Owoade.
Royalty was richly represented as well, with the presence of revered monarchs such as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, adding grandeur and cultural depth to the occasion.
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Passengers Escape Death By Whiskers As Bus Burst Into Flames In Lagos

The driver and conductor of a BRT bus have fled for their lives, abandoning passengers to their fate, as a BRT bus caught fire at Maryland, Lagos State, on Saturday morning.
Our correspondent, who was at the scene of the incident, said that the vehicle departed from Ikorodu en route to CMS when the sad incident occurred.
As of the time this report was filed, emergency responders, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), fire services, and local security personnel, arrived at the scene to contain the blaze.
Firefighters at the scene.
One of the passengers on the bus told our correspondent the fire started as smoke from the driver’s side.
According to her, the passengers initially thought the smoke emanated from other buses; however, the slight smoke soon worsened, immediately sending them into panic mode.
“As soon as we saw that the smoke grew bigger, we immediately rushed off the bus before the fire ignited”, she said, adding that none of the passengers sustained any injury.
She added that the driver fled the scene immediately after the fire started.
“The driver and the conductor ran away. They didn’t even wait to see what would happen to us.
“Definitely, they knew what happened. They knew the bus was bad before putting it on the road and risking our lives,” she alleged.
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VOA Halts Operations In Nigeria, Others Over President Trump

The United States-funded Voice of America (VOA) has gone off air in Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, and several other African countries after President Donald Trump cut financial support to the global broadcaster.
The shutdown, first noticed by millions of listeners in northern Nigeria, sparked panic when music began playing in place of scheduled broadcasts, a haunting reminder in the region of military coups or political takeovers.
“People started calling in, worried that there had been a coup in America,” Babangida Jibrin, a journalist who worked with VOA’s now-defunct Hausa-language service was quoted by Daily Trust.
The station’s abrupt disappearance from the airwaves last month left stunned reporters scrambling to explain what had happened to their loyal audience.
VOA’s Hausa service, a lifeline for millions of listeners in rural and conflict-prone areas of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Niger, had become a trusted source of international and regional news, especially in places where local media is either censored, inaccessible, or compromised by state influence.
With internet access unreliable or non-existent in these regions, shortwave and radio broadcasts like VOA filled a crucial void.
“People are now cut off from the world, especially from critical international news,” lamented Moussa Jaharou, a listener from southern Niger.
He described the shutdown as a “deliberate silencing of the poor.”
Founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA later became a major player in Cold War-era broadcasting, offering an American perspective against Soviet disinformation.
Over the decades, it evolved into a beacon of credible journalism worldwide, particularly in authoritarian regions where press freedom is under attack.
In northern Nigeria, where insurgency, banditry, and government corruption are everyday realities, VOA Hausa provided in-depth, unbiased coverage that is often missing in local media.
Its disappearance has now left a gaping hole in a media landscape already struggling with state repression and misinformation.
Critics blame Trump’s ideological war on independent institutions and his administration’s push to dismantle U.S.-backed international media.
The US president slashed VOA’s funding as part of a broader effort to bring the outlet under tighter political control, effectively killing off several regional language services.
It was also reported that over 1,100 “Hands Off!” protests and meetings were scheduled to take place across all 50 states in the U.S. on Saturday.
This was in response to the significant cuts to the federal workforce, reportedly overseen by Trump adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
These nationwide demonstrations aim to voice opposition to the dramatic reductions in the federal workforce, which organisers believe are part of a broader effort to dismantle public services, including Social Security, Medicaid, and public education.
The protests are being organised by a coalition of over 150 organisations, including Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Service Employees International Union, and the American Civil Liberties Union, according to Yahoo News.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them,” the organisers say on their website. “They’re taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them.”
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