Following
the lapse of its 10-day ultimatum to the federal government to order the arrest
of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, a
northern
youth group on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja.
Scores of
members of the group, Arewa Youth Assembly, AYA, gathered at the Unity Fountain
in the Central Business District at about 9 a.m. and marched to the junction of
the Presidential Villa.
They warned
the federal government that it risks their wrath if it delays in meeting the
demand to take Mr. Kanu back into custody.
The group
had in a statement on July 27 threatened to shut down federal government
activities in Abuja if Acting President Yemi Osinbajo fails to order the arrest
of Mr. Kanu who is on bail.
Mr. Kanu,
who is championing a Biafran secessionist call, is being prosecuted for alleged
treasonable offences.
Members of
AYA said the IPOB leader has been violating his bail conditions and that his
antics threaten peaceful coexistence of the people of Nigeria.
Mr. Kanu was
granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja on April 28 on stringent
conditions, some of which is to avoid speaking with the press or being in a
crowd of more than 10 persons.
Speaking to
PREMIUM TIMES, Mohammed Salihu, who spoke for the northern youth group,
reiterated its threat to shut down government activities in Abuja if the acting
president fails to act as it had demanded.
“I will be
very brief. We organised this peaceful protest as a warning and reminder to
federal government to arrest Nnamdi Kanu now.
“The Arewa
Youth Assembly will not make a U-turn on its decisions. We intend to carry out
our proposed plans and nothing can stop us.
“We will
mobilize thousands of youth to shut down government activities in Abuja after
our congress meeting next week Saturday,” he said.
A team of
police officers monitored the group’s procession from a distance before the
group dispersed shortly before noon.
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