Nnamdi Kanu detention triggers global protest as activists urge world powers to intervene and demand his unconditional release in Abuja

Nnamdi Kanu detention has once again drawn international attention as activists under the aegis of the Concerned Indigenous People of Biafra and Peaceful Global Awareness Campaigners for Justice and Freedom staged a peaceful protest in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for immediate global intervention in his prolonged imprisonment.

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The protesters, armed with placards condemning what they described as the “unlawful detention and torture” of the IPOB leader, submitted a detailed petition to several diplomatic missions and international institutions based in Nigeria’s capital.

The letter, dated November 12, 2025, titled “SOS – Urgent Global Humanitarian Intervention to End the Unlawful Detention and Torture of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” was signed by the coalition leader, Mr Adindu Nkem.

In the petition, the activists appealed for urgent humanitarian and diplomatic action over what they termed the “extra-judicial abduction” of Kanu from Kenya in June 2021 and his continued incarceration by Nigeria’s Department of State Services.

They argued that this act constitutes a grave breach of international law and the sovereignty of Kenya.

According to the group, several court rulings — including those from Nigerian courts and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention — have ordered Kanu’s unconditional release, yet the Nigerian government “continues to defy these binding decisions.” They described his ongoing detention under harsh conditions as “a blatant act of state-sponsored torture and terrorism.”

The activists warned that Kanu’s deteriorating health in custody presents a humanitarian crisis. “His continued detention and the harassment of peaceful campaigners threaten justice and global peace,” the letter read.

Copies of the appeal were sent to the United Nations, the US Embassy, the British High Commission, the European Union delegation, and more than a dozen other embassies and high commissions, including those of Canada, France, Germany, China, and South Africa.

The protesters also demanded that world powers hold Nigerian authorities accountable for Kanu’s illegal abduction and the alleged persecution of IPOB members.

They urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expand its investigations into Nigeria to include crimes against humanity, enforced disappearances, and acts of state terrorism.

They further called on the international community to classify Nigeria as a “terrorist state” until it ceases all forms of unlawful detentions and violence against civilians.

“The kidnapping of a lawful self-determination leader from another sovereign nation is not a domestic issue — it is international terrorism,” the letter stated.

The activists concluded their appeal by urging the United Nations, African Union, and European Union to initiate an emergency diplomatic dialogue, describing the matter as “a moral test of global justice.”

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Their message was clear — the Nnamdi Kanu detention is no longer just a national issue but a global call for justice and accountability.