NANS Insists on Nationwide Protest to Free Nnamdi Kanu

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has reaffirmed its commitment to participating in the planned nationwide protest demanding the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This decision comes after reports emerged suggesting that NANS had withdrawn from the protest.

NANS alleged that certain individuals, described as “touts hired by agents of government,” falsely claimed to represent the student body in an attempt to dissociate it from the protest. The association described these claims as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine the ongoing efforts of concerned Nigerians who are peacefully demanding justice .

NANS has called on all well-meaning Nigerians to join the protest, emphasizing that the demand for Kanu’s release is a collective responsibility. The association’s National President, Comrade Atiku Isah, stated that NANS stands firmly for justice, unity, and the protection of citizens’ rights to peaceful protest .

The protest, scheduled for October 20, 2025, aims to demand the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021. The students’ planned protest coincides with the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has led to the shutdown of Nigerian government-owned universities.

The planned protest has garnered significant attention, with notable figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, and Senator Shehu Sani calling for Kanu’s release. Igbo-speaking youths across Nigeria have also endorsed the protest, describing it as a “national action against injustice” .