Protesters in the 'Million Man March' have told members of the media that they are not only calling for the release of Mr. Kanu, but also their freedom from abuses of the Nigerian government.
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Video and photographs provided to SaharaReporters depict massive protests in the Onitsha area by Pro-Biafran protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra. Mr. Kanu was arrested in early October by members of the Department of State Service (DSS) for being a security risk to Nigeria. The court gave Mr. Kanu bail conditions which, according to the legal counsel of Mr. Kanu, are too strict for him to satisfy.
Protesters in the 'Million Man March' have told members of the media that they are not only calling for the release of Mr. Kanu, but also their freedom from abuses of the Nigerian government.
The Inspector General of the Police, Solomon Arase, has also told members of the media that he has in his possession intelligence briefs suggesting that many of the protests across Nigeria are intended to spur violence. Mr. Arase said, “any attempt to unleash mayhem on innocent and law abiding Nigerians under any guise by this group will be met with stiff resistance from the Police and other security agencies, the actors will be brought to justice in line with extant criminal laws.”
SaharaReporters reported earlier today that at least 83 protesters were arrested in Bayelsa State by police. A citizen journalist has now confirmed that about 100 suspected members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) were arrested by the Nigerian police in Bayelsa State.
An eyewitness speaking with a SaharaReporters correspondent at Ekeki motor park in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, said "today some group of youths in threes, fours, and fives started trooping into the park. Initially, we thought they were Boko Haram boys due to their shabby clothes."
Citizen journalist reports to SaharaReporters have confirmed that this group of youth were not part of peaceful Million Man March protests, but intended to cause insecurity.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Butswat told a SaharaReporters correspondent that 78 men and 5 women were arrested "because they want to ferment troubles and unleashed mayhem to the society in the name of peaceful protest." He also noted that weapons, including guns, were confiscated from some of those arrested.