Sowore, Emmanuel Kanu lead pro-Nnamdi Kanu peaceful protest in Aba
The leader of pro-democracy group, RevolutionNow and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and the younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of
The leader of pro-democracy group, RevolutionNow and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and the younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Prince Emmanuel Kanu, yesterday joined residents and sympathisers of Nnamdi Kanu to a one million march peaceful protest in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.
The leader of a team of soldiers from Nigerian Army, 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, attached to 144 Battalion, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, who arrived at A Line, Ariaria International Market, Aba, had accosted the protesters and urged them to stop the protest.
According to the team leader, the protest going on in the market posed great danger to the traders, their businesses and visitors at the market.
He advised them to obtain clearance to hold their peaceful protest outside the market.
However, while the leader of the army personnel was still addressing some of the protesters, Sowore and Prince Kanu, who may have been informed about attempt by the soldiers and members of other security personnel to disperse the protesters, stormed the A line where they demanded that the protesters should be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful protest.
According to our correspondent, Sowore, in company of Kanu’s younger brother, led the protesters from A line, through the popular Enyimba junction, off Ariaria International Market among others.
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However, mild drama played out at the A Line section of Faulks Road as a team of police personnel in an attempt to disperse the crowd shot teargas canisters at the protesters and live ammunition into the air sporadically.
This created tension among shop owners and visitors on Faulks Road, as they were forced to close to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
The team of security agencies, including Army personnel, members of the Operation Crush (Abia State Special Security Outfit) and police personnel from various divisions under the Aba Area Command, had taken over the Faulks Road flank of the market with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and various patrol vans in a move to restore normalcy in the area.
Sowore said he joined the march because of the ‘‘injustice’’ againstKanu.
Sowore, who demanded that President Bola Tinubu should release Kanu from Sokoto Prison, added that Justice Omotosho was wrong to have jailed Kanu
He said until Kanu was released, the protest would continue.
Emmanuel Kanu said the protest was against injustice committed against his elder brother by the Federal Government.
Kanu, who condemned the police for shooting teargas canisters and live ammunition at peaceful protesters, said rather than being cowed, it had emboldened them and given them the courage to push on and will continue to march for the freedom of his elder brother.
Prince Kanu, who described the march as a success, called on Nnamdi Kanu’s supporters and Igbos across the globe not to be dampened, adding that the protest would not stop until his brother was released by the Federal Government.
