Igbo Women have declared their support for Sowore’s October 20 Protest and demanded Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that some prominent Igbo women under the banner of the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) have declared their full support for the nationwide protest being organised by rights activist Omoyele Sowore on October 20, calling for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement released on Saturday, the group’s National President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, described the planned demonstration as “a step in the right direction,” praising Sowore and other national figures—including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—for “lending their voices against injustice.”
The IWA said it would mobilise women across Igbo land to participate in the peaceful protest, urging Nigerians from all regions, religions, and political backgrounds to unite against what it described as “protracted injustice.”
According to the group, Kanu’s prolonged detention represents “a stain on Nigeria’s justice system,” adding that his persecution is politically motivated.
“If the government can negotiate with armed bandits who have taken lives and terrorised the country, then releasing Kanu should not be considered a difficult decision,” the statement read.
The IWA commended the unwavering efforts of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Rep. Obi Aguocha, Peter Obi, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for their consistent push for Kanu’s release. The group also appreciated non-Igbo Nigerians who have continued to speak out against Kanu’s detention, describing their solidarity as “a beacon of hope for justice.”
Appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu, the group urged him to heed the growing calls from across Nigeria and release Kanu unconditionally.
“We must not allow injustice to divide us. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stood for truth, equity, and freedom of speech—and that’s why the system came after him,” IWA stated.
The group reaffirmed its readiness to join the October 20 protest, insisting that “injustice to one is injustice to all.”