Omoyele Sowore criticizes heavy military deployment during Aba protest, calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s release and urges fair treatment for all Nigerians

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has criticized the deployment of a large number of soldiers and security personnel in Aba during the free Nnamdi Kanu 1 Million protest on Thursday.

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Addressing protesters, Sowore said the heavy military presence would have been better used in states facing serious attacks from Boko Haram and Lakuwara terrorists.

He clarified that he was not the organizer of the Aba protest but joined to advocate for justice and the release of Nnamdi Kanu, whom he described as “a leader, brother, and father.”

Sowore told the crowd:

“We are not the organizers of this protest but we said we must come to this city and announce the freedom of our brother, our father and leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Am only for justice, I don’t care if you are Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa. Nigeria cannot thrive when one tribe is treated differently from the other.”

He further demanded that Kanu should be released before Easter, saying:

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must spend Easter with us, he has suffered enough.”

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Despite initial dispersal by security forces at Faulks Road, the crowd regrouped at Samek area of Aba in larger numbers before continuing their protest.

In contrast, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, remained peaceful with police maintaining patrols throughout the city.