The arrest and detention of Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, along with his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and over ten other individuals, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice, civil liberties, and respect for constitutional rights in Nigeria.
The group was apprehended during a peaceful protest held in Abuja on Monday, October 20, 2025, as part of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign demanding the release of the detained IPOB leader. The protest quickly turned tense when security operatives used force to disperse the demonstrators, allegedly deploying tear gas and damaging the equipment of a journalist covering the event.
The Arrests and Charges
Following the crackdown, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command arraigned Emmanuel Kanu, Ejimakor, and other participants before a magistrate court in Kuje. The court remanded the group to Kuje Correctional Centre, pending further hearings.
According to the police, the group faces multiple charges including incitement to public disturbance, breach of public peace, obstruction of traffic, denial of freedom of movement to other citizens, and chanting of “war songs”, all allegedly aimed at pressuring the government to release Nnamdi Kanu.
The police claim the protesters violated a court order that had previously restricted certain public gatherings in the city center, though protest organizers maintain that their demonstration was peaceful and lawful.
Wabara Speaks Out
Former Senate President and current Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has condemned the arrests in strong terms. In a public statement, Wabara demanded the immediate release of those detained, describing the police response as excessive and undemocratic.
“It is a fundamental right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest. Security agencies are meant to protect the people, not brutalize or suppress them,” Wabara stated. “What happened in Abuja is a serious dent on Nigeria’s democratic image.”
Wabara warned that continued persecution of Kanu’s legal team and family members could deepen tensions in the already fragile South-East region, where IPOB has considerable influence and where government handling of the Kanu case remains a sore point. The magistrate court has adjourned the case and ordered the remand of the accused until Friday. Legal observers are watching closely to see how the judiciary handles the matter, especially given the political sensitivity and growing public interest.
Meanwhile, the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement shows no signs of slowing. Protests are expected to continue, and opposition voices like Senator Wabara’s are growing louder.
As Nigeria navigates this complex mix of legal, political, and human rights challenges, the country’s democratic institutions and their credibility are once again being put to the test.
