The extraordinary rendition or state sponsored kidnapping of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was kidnapped in June 2021. A British citizen, he was on in Kenya when a gang of at least 7 men seized him. He is said to have raised the alarm in the airport, but his captors told his would be helpers that he was an Al Shabab terrorist and warned them to stand back. Kanu was then taken into captivity where he was beaten and tortured. We think he was in Kenya for about a week before his captors put him on a plane specially arranged by the Nigerian government in which he travelled as the sole passenger. He has been in Nigerian Department of State (DSS) custody in Abuja, Nigeria since where he has been denied access to legal advice, his family and consular assistance by the British High Commission stationed in Nigeria. The DSS failed to produce him in court on 26 July 2021. As a result, IPOB has taken a decision that they will do a sit at home protest every Monday starting from 9 August 2021 until Mazi Nnadi Kanu’s unconditional release.
Protesting in Nigeria is not a game for the faint of heart
I grew up on a university campus and attended university in Nigeria, so I had a “front seat” at some famous protests. The most frightening was one that took place while I was a student at Ambrose Alli University known as Bendel State University. The students were told to meet at a grassy spot for an address by the Vice Chancellor and just like in an action movie we found ourselves surrounded by military police all dressed in black and armed to the teeth that seemed to emerge from thin air against unarmed students. That year, lots of students disappeared after the protest and were never heard of again. Nobody asked about them either. Nigeria is a harsh place.
Protesters gather at the meeting point at Parliament Square, London for the Southern Solidarity protest march on 31 July 2021
That is why the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 seemed different. It was very effective and global protest until the shooting of the Lekki protesters with 3 million people including me watching on DJ Switches live Instagram feed on 20 October 2021. It was shocking watching DJ Switch and co trying to extract bullets from victims and keep them alive. Many were traumatised that night. I remember thinking that there is no safe way to protest in Nigeria and became convinced that the only safe way for Nigerians to protest would be for those of us in the Diaspora to take to the streets. I planned a protest march initially for 15 January 2021 and ultimately postponed this to 31 July 2021. More on that in another blog post.
Me, protesting outside the Nigeria High Commission, London on 17 October 2020
There have been protests in Nigeria since 20 October 2020 and each time they have ended up with people arrested, shot, and murdered. With no safe way to protest in Nigeria, IPOB’s sit at home protest is a stroke of genius in my opinion. As Biafrans will not need to leave home, even more people could participate – potentially 100%. It was not restricted to the youth as with traditional street protests.
Opposition to the sit at home protest
1. NECO exams
Sadly, the protest was not welcome by all. Those who are not in favour of the sit at home protest argued that Biafra was risking having a generation of young people who would miss out on sitting exams that are crucial to their future careers. (https://www.neco.gov.ng). I think that this is a fair comment. However, schools are better able to deal with interruptions to the usual academic years having had to cope with covid19 protocol. With good planning, such students should not miss out.
2. The fatal bus burning attack on a passenger bus in Nnewi
Passengers in a bus were badly beaten on Sunday 8 August 2021 and two of them fatally set alight. As the attack was the day before the sit at home protest it did not make sense for the any overzealous IPOB members to have carried out the attack. IPOB has strenuously denied involvement in the incident. The Nigerian government has a habit of breaking up protests by introducing violent thugs and it is possible that such thugs carried out this brutal and senseless attack on innocent people.
3. The attack in the food vendors in Onitsha
You can view this incident by clicking on the following link for the video posted on a Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/withinnigeria/videos/259220832433094
IPOB has denied asking any of its members to attack the businesses of these two vendors. One YouTube channel has set up a collection for the two ladies affected to compensate them for their losses. https://youtu.be/jFpjbWGAcfs
4. The sit at home protest will be disrupted by politicians in due course
One YouTuber in this video thinks that the politicians will disrupt the protest https://youtu.be/jFpjbWGAcfs He supports the sit at home but for sporadic unpredictable days. I personally do not see how sporadic unpredictable days will necessarily have a better effect or stop corrupt politicians or others from trying to disrupt the protest.
5. Crashing the economy of Biafra
There was talk that Biafra people are entrepreneurial and tend to run their own businesses and this protest would be counterproductive. A group of people known as Ogidi youths staged a counter protest. https://youtu.be/O0bWPfqHppgThey The youths were very well prepared for the protest including wearing specially printed T-shirts. To that end it was very surprising that they did a U-turn the following day and apologised for going on the march on the basis that they had not appreciated that the sit at home protest would not damage the economy of Biafra. Was this an attempt by a local group – perhaps one of the south-eastern politicians that do not have the trust of the Biafran people? It certainly had all the hallmarks. In any event, they have agreed to observe the protest going forward.
Protesters group photograph at the meeting point at Parliament Square, London for the Southern Solidarity protest march on 31 July 2021
Conclusion
Whether one is concerned about long term education or the economy of Biafra, the fact is that no south easterner can look forward to a bright future in the geographical contraption known as Nigeria.
The restoration of Biafra via a referendum requires a winning vote rather than a vote that is 100% in favour of. There is always room for dissenting voices even in this instance.
Finally, for anyone who thinks that the sit at home protest is a waste of time, here is a video for you to watch and consider – credit to Falling_Nation
Anyone who is prepared to place considerations of exams and the short-term economy ahead of the actualisation of Biafra is a in effect a turkey voting for Christmas.
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Me at the meeting point at Parliament Square, London for the Southern Solidarity protest march on 31 July 2021