The Indigenous People of Biafra on Tuesday staged what it called Trump Solidarity Rallies in parts of the South-East, as supporters again demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group said the peaceful marches took place at the same time in Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi states, with participation from youths, women, and elders.
IPOB explained that the rallies were organised to show solidarity and to remember southeasterners who were killed nine years ago during protests held on the day of former United States President Donald Trump’s first inauguration. According to the group, those protests ended in bloodshed after Nigerian soldiers allegedly fired on unarmed demonstrators.
The organisation claimed that the actions of security forces at the time led to the deaths of many protesters and said the memories of those events remain fresh among supporters in the region. It added that, despite ongoing insecurity and pressure in the South-East, its members continue to gather without fear.
During the rallies, protesters were seen carrying banners, placards, and images of Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB said participants insisted that his continued detention remains a major cause of tension in the region and called for his release as a step toward easing unrest.
The group also demanded a thorough investigation into past killings, including those linked to protests in Port Harcourt, as well as the wider security challenges affecting the South-East. It maintained that justice and accountability are necessary for lasting peace.
IPOB restated that all its actions are peaceful and lawful. It appealed to security agencies to allow citizens exercise their right to peaceful assembly and urged the international community and human rights organisations to pay attention to what it described as worsening human rights conditions in the South-East of Nigeria.