BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu: Instead Of Releasing Him, You Go And Put Army On Every Kilometer In The S’East- Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, has drawn attention to a significant imbalance in military deployment across Nigeria while advocating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a Symfoni TV video, Sowore claimed that in the Southeast, army checkpoints are stationed nearly every kilometer, creating a heavy military presence. In contrast, he noted that in the North, one can travel over 100 kilometers without encountering a single checkpoint, suggesting a disparity in security measures.

In Sowore’s words: “It is the Nigerian government that goes to the southeast to go and militarize it. It is the Nigerian government that refused to released Nnamdi Kanu, something that would have solved a big problem, and then instead of releasing him (Kanu) you go and put army on the east. Every kilometer in the southeast there are army checkpoints but after 100 kilometers in the north you can’t find the army. There was a man in Katsina who said there are only 5 guns in an LGA in Katsina State”

Sowore’s observations align with his broader critique of Nigeria’s governance, particularly regarding regional inequalities and security policies. He has consistently linked such disparities to systemic issues, including the marginalization of certain groups, as seen in his calls for Kanu’s release. On October 24, 2024, Sowore argued that Kanu’s detention since June 2021 reflects Nigeria’s “Igbo problem,” rooted in post-civil war marginalization, and criticized President Bola Tinubu for not freeing him as a gesture of justice.

The heavy militarization in the Southeast, often attributed to IPOB-related agitations, contrasts with the North’s relatively sparse checkpoints, despite ongoing banditry and insurgency. Sowore’s remarks underscore the need for equitable security policies and justice for detained activists like Kanu to foster national unity and address regional grievances effectively.