The Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), through its Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, stating that it is “a necessary step towards national healing.”
The statement comes amid rising concerns over prolonged detention and increasing insecurity in the South‑East region.
Nwanguma explained that the ongoing unrest is largely due to “state repression, by criminalising dissent voices, militarising civilian life,” adding that holding Kanu indefinitely has become “a legal and moral scandal.” He stressed that the situation impacts the broader relationship between the government and citizens in the region.
The RULAAC chief noted that releasing Kanu would serve multiple purposes: it would remove “a major rallying point exploited by violent elements,” restore trust between the government and South‑East communities, and demonstrate that Nigeria remains “a democracy governed by law, not selective power.” He added: “What I would consider the path towards peace, is Kanu’s immediate release. It is not a concession. It is a necessary step towards national healing.”
He also highlighted the militarisation of the South‑East, noting it is “the only zone where you have multiple checkpoints … the entire South‑East is militarised with all manner of checkpoints manned by different security operators and conflating all grievances with separatism.” Nwanguma added that repression breeds “a dozen more angry and alienated youths.”
While acknowledging that Kanu’s rhetoric has at times been extreme, Nwanguma said the focus should be on upholding justice, not ideology. He emphasised that no citizen or region should be treated above or below the law, reinforcing the importance of the release in restoring public confidence.
Finally, he appealed to President Ahmed Tinubu to heed calls for Kanu’s release, arguing that it would strengthen the Nigerian state by reaffirming justice and equality rather than weaken it. He concluded: “Injustice divides nations. Justice heals them. Let the Nigerian government choose justice and let the South‑East breathe again.”
