OPA slams Sowore over Kanu release campaign

The Odua People’s Assembly (OPA) has condemned what it described as a “provocative and insensitive” campaign by activist Omoyele Sowore, calling for the unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

OPA, in a statement by its National Chairman, Kayode Richard Olatunji, said Sowore’s demand was misguided and undermined the collective effort of Nigerians—especially those in the Southwest—to recover from the devastation allegedly caused by Kanu’s incitement during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

The group recalled that the nationwide demonstrations against police brutality, which began peacefully, were later hijacked following Kanu’s “incendiary remarks” on Radio Biafra.

According to Olatunji, the IPOB leader’s comments encouraged violence, including attacks on security personnel and the destruction of public and private property.

He said, “Kanu’s rhetoric turned a genuine cry for justice into chaos. His followers went as far as attacking the palace of the Oba of Lagos, looting valuables and desecrating a revered Yoruba institution.”

OPA alleged that about $2 million and N17 million were stolen during the invasion, alongside the Oba’s staff of authority, a symbolic object of kingship.

“The act was not just theft—it was an affront to Yoruba culture and an attack on the traditional leadership that holds our communities together,” Olatunji said.

The group accused Kanu’s followers of unleashing violence in several states, including Lagos, Ondo, Kwara, and Osun, resulting in deaths, looting, and destruction of properties worth billions of naira.

Olatunji said the chaos derailed the #EndSARS movement’s original intent and fuelled narratives of lawlessness.

“The campaign for Kanu’s release disregards the pain of victims who lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. It risks reopening old wounds and threatening the fragile peace we’ve worked hard to restore,” he warned.

OPA urged the Federal Government to resist pressure and allow Kanu’s prosecution to run its full course, stressing that accountability must be upheld.

“The Odua People’s Assembly rejects any call for Kanu’s unconditional release. Justice and peace must prevail, not sentiments or political expediency,” the statement added.