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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Residents of Umuahia, the Abia State capital, joined others across the country to protest the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
All public institutions, including schools, banks and markets, were shut down as a result of the protest.
There were restrictions on vehicular movement as most commuters stayed indoors.
Some of the protesters marched from Isi Gate in the state capital, heading to Government House, but on getting to Okpara Square, they were accosted by the state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa.
The protesters insisted on taking their message to Governor Alex Otti. The CP appealed to them to give him the message, promising to deliver it to the Governor.
Isa appealed to the protesters to disperse and go home so that criminal elements would not infiltrate and hijack the protest.
Elsewhere at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Kanu’s hometown, protesters marched round the area, demanding the immediate release of Kanu.
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The protesters carried placards, some of which read, “Free Kanu now”, “the IPOB leader has committed no crime”, “Kanu must be set free now”.
Some of the protesters who spoke with our correspondent said it is the height of injustice for Kanu to remain in detention all this while.
One of them queried the rationale behind keeping Kanu behind bars, while Sunday Igboho is roaming the streets and some arrested bandits are released.
“If Sunday Igboho should be allowed to roam the streets and the Federal Government negotiate and release arrested bandits, why should they not release Nnamdi Kanu?”
From Aba came the report that although everywhere in the commercial city was calm as there were no protests, yet soldiers patrolled the streets in a show of force.
However, as has been the case every Monday, public institutions and markets were put under lock and key.
