A coalition of youth organisations in Nigeria’s North-Central region has publicly disassociated itself from calls for a Sowore-led protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement delivered at a press briefing, the groups said they will not participate in demonstrations they view as potentially inflammatory or marginal to local peacebuilding efforts.
The youth leaders argued that while the rule of law and due process should be respected, mass protests organised outside formal mediation channels risk inflaming existing tensions. They instead called for institutional engagement — through courts, legal representation and civil society mediation — to address the detainee’s welfare and legal issues.
Civil society stakeholders welcomed the youths’ position and urged national actors to prioritise dialogue and legal channels. Security officials, speaking off-the-record, said the preference for quiet, lawful processes by influential youth groups is helpful for de-escalation in regions vulnerable to communal unrest
