Arewa Group Backs #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest, Calls Detention a National Crisis

The Arewa Take-It-Back Movement (ATIB), a coalition of Northern Nigerian youth, activists, and civil society leaders, has openly declared its solidarity with the nationwide #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, describing it as a necessary step to defend justice and restore faith in the rule of law.

According to a statement obtained by PulseNets, ATIB’s Lead Coordinator, Comrade Nazif Bashi, said the group’s decision to align with the campaign was driven by “a collective demand for justice and respect for constitutional order.”

Bashi told PulseNets that the movement’s position is rooted in a deep concern for Nigeria’s democratic health, warning that continued suppression of dissenting voices could erode national unity.

“As voices from the North, we stand with our brothers and sisters across Nigeria in calling for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,”
Bashi stated.
“His continued detention since June 2021, despite multiple court rulings — including the October 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that ordered his release — violates not just his rights but the very foundation of democracy.”

ATIB emphasised that the case of the detained IPOB leader is not an ethnic or regional issue, but a national concern that touches the liberties of all Nigerians. The group drew parallels between Kanu’s ordeal and other patterns of repression across the country.

“This is not about the Igbo nation; it’s about the survival of our democracy,”
the statement noted.
“The injustice faced by Mazi Kanu mirrors what’s happening in Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and Borno — and reflects how the Cybercrimes Act is being weaponised to silence ordinary citizens.”

In its statement, ATIB commended human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore and the Take-It-Back Movement for spearheading what it called “a united national front for justice and accountability.”

The coalition described the peaceful march to Aso Rock as “a moral obligation to demand transparency and fairness from the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.”

Calling on Arewa youth, students, and traders across Nigeria to join the peaceful demonstration, ATIB stressed that true unity must be built on justice, not repression.

The group’s list of demands includes:

• The immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

• Full compliance with all judicial rulings regarding his case

• Access to medical care and humane treatment for the detainee

• The repeal of repressive laws, particularly the Cybercrimes Act

ATIB also urged the federal government and security agencies to honour citizens’ constitutional rights under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association.

Also Read: Sowore, Others Stage #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest in Abuja as Police Beef Up Security

“We are calling on the authorities to respect the courts, uphold the Constitution, and allow Nigerians to assemble peacefully,”
the group told PulseNets.
“A nation that silences its citizens cannot claim to be democratic.”