Northern youths have condemned alleged plans by some politicians to stage a protest in Abuja demanding the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) described the move as a “desperate political stunt” disconnected from the real struggles of Nigerian youths.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the forum’s president, Comrade Murtala Mohammed Gamji, said the courts should be allowed to decide Kanu’s case. He stressed that politicizing the matter could deepen national divisions.
Gamji said, “As far as it stands now, he is guilty until proven otherwise. The judicial process must take its course.”
He added that Northern youths would instead hold a three-day solidarity march from October 21 to 23 in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the march aims to promote national unity and youth inclusion in governance.
“This is a message of hope for all Nigerian youths, whether they support the president or not. We’re coming to celebrate his student loan initiative,” Gamji stated.
He said paramilitary youth organizations such as the Peace Corps, Man O’ War, Boys Brigade, and Civilian JTF would join the rally.
The forum, he added, seeks to show that Nigerian youths can unite across ethnic and religious lines for positive causes.
Gamji urged young Nigerians to focus on opportunities created by the Tinubu administration rather than divisive protests.
“We must move away from regional politics and embrace national development,” he said.
The forum also called on security agencies to remain alert and ensure peace during the planned protest for Kanu’s release, warning that political interests could exploit it for unrest.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since 2021 on charges related to treason and terrorism.
His continued imprisonment has fueled protests in parts of the Southeast, with renewed calls for his release gaining momentum in recent weeks.