Nnamdi Kanu’s Brother Arrested Amidst Abuja ‘Free Kanu’ Protest

ABUJA — The tension surrounding the ongoing detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu ratcheted up today as police in Abuja reportedly arrested his brother, Prince Kanu, during a demonstration demanding the immediate release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader.

The protest, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanu, was organised by civil society groups and activists, including Omoyele Sowore, and was intended to draw national and international attention to Kanu’s prolonged incarceration and ongoing treason trial.

Eyewitnesses at the protest grounds in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) confirmed that Prince Kanu was among several demonstrators swiftly apprehended by security operatives who were deployed in large numbers to contain the protest. The exact circumstances leading to his arrest remain unclear, though initial reports suggest the police intervention was aimed at enforcing a court order that had restricted the protest to specific areas of the capital.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has yet to issue an official statement on the arrest of Prince Kanu or the total number of demonstrators detained. When contacted, spokespersons for the FCT Police Command were unavailable for comment on the development as of press time.

The demonstration comes on the heels of a Federal High Court ruling last week which, while not outright stopping the protest, placed significant geographical restrictions on the movement of the demonstrators, barring them from sensitive areas like the National Assembly and the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock). The organisers, however, proceeded with the demonstration, insisting on their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

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Prince Kanu’s arrest is significant as he has been an outspoken advocate for his brother, Nnamdi Kanu, often serving as a principal conduit between the detained IPOB leader, his legal team, and the international community. The Kanu family, through other siblings like Kingsley Kanu, has consistently accused the Nigerian government of extraordinary rendition and flouting court orders that had previously called for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

Nnamdi Kanu, a dual Nigerian-British national and leader of the proscribed IPOB group, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial repatriation to Nigeria in June 2021 to face treasonable felony charges.

Civil liberty groups have already condemned the police action, describing it as an infringement on the rights of peaceful assembly. Activists maintain that the arrest of a family member during a peaceful protest only serves to escalate the already fragile political climate surrounding the Biafra agitation.

The situation remains fluid in Abuja, with security forces maintaining a strong presence around the protest routes. Legal representatives for the family and the detained protesters are expected to engage with the police authorities later today to ascertain the charges, if any, and secure their release. The incident underscores the continuing delicate balance between national security and the protection of fundamental human rights in Nigeria’s capital.