The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest to demand the release of the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to NANS, the protest tagged “Free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu” will take place on Monday, October 20, 2025, with students from all parts of the country expected to converge on Abuja.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Atiku Isah, and dated October 13, 2025, the students’ body said the decision was reached after a meeting of its national executive council.
The planned protest is aimed at pressing for justice, civil rights, and democratic accountability in Nigeria.
“Following the resolution reached at the recent executive meeting of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the leadership of NANS hereby calls on all Nigerian students to participate in the ‘Free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’ nationwide protest scheduled to hold on Monday, 20th October, 2025,” the statement read.
To ensure smooth coordination, the association revealed that students from all geopolitical zones will assemble first in their regional centres before moving to the Federal Capital Territory.
The South West zone will meet in Ekiti State, South East in Enugu, South South in Edo, North East in Bauchi, North West in Kano, and North Central in Lokoja, Kogi State.
NANS added that ten buses have been provided for each zone to transport students to Abuja. The statement also mentioned that all logistics will be handled through Students’ Union Government (SUG) presidents across the various campuses.
“This mobilisation is part of the collective demand for justice, civil rights, and democratic accountability,” Isah stated. “As students, we affirm that freedom is achieved through struggle, and we remain committed to peaceful advocacy for what is right.”
The call for protest comes amid renewed agitation across the South East and beyond, following several court judgments that declared Kanu’s continued detention unlawful.
Human rights groups and Igbo socio-political bodies have also urged the Federal Government to comply with the rulings and release him unconditionally.