The wife of Prince Emmanuel Kanu — younger brother to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has cried out over the arrest and detention of her husband and his lawyer, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor.
Mrs. Favour Michael Kanu, speaking in an exclusive interview, described the incident as “heartbreaking and unjust,” insisting that her husband’s only “offence” was participating in a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of his brother.
According to Mrs. Kanu, the #FreeNnamdiKanu rally held in Abuja on Monday was completely non-violent and aimed at drawing the government’s attention to the prolonged detention of the IPOB leader.
However, she said the event turned chaotic after security operatives allegedly stormed the venue, firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd.
“It’s unbelievable and heartbreaking because everything was peaceful from start to finish,” she lamented. “My husband and Barrister Aloy Ejimakor were there with Sowore and others. They had barely started gathering when several security vehicles arrived.
Despite telling the officers that it was a peaceful protest, with no weapons or violence, they suddenly began shooting. People ran for safety, and that was how they picked up my husband and Barrister Ejimakor.”
Mrs. Kanu further revealed that after the arrest, her husband and the lawyer were detained briefly before being arraigned and subsequently remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
She decried what she called “a disturbing pattern of intimidation and injustice” against her family and those advocating for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
“This is pure persecution. My husband has done nothing wrong. All he did was stand for justice and freedom. Now he’s in prison for demanding what is right,” she said tearfully.
Supporters of the movement have since taken to social media to demand the immediate release of Prince Emmanuel Kanu and Barr. Aloy Ejimakor, with the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanu trending across major platforms.
Human rights advocates have also called on the Nigerian government to respect the citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression, urging authorities to halt what they described as a “criminalization of lawful protest.”
As of the time of this report, both Prince Emmanuel Kanu and Barr. Ejimakor remain remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further court proceedings.
#SayNoToInjustice #FreeNnamdiKanu #HumanRights #Nigeria
