Last month, Mr Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra was arrested by security men after arriving in Lagos from the UK from where he runs his pirate radio station, which calls for the break-up of Nigeria. His arrested has sparked a series of protests by Igbo-speaking Biafran supporters who held solidarity rallies across Nigeria demanding his unconditional release.
Among the major rallies that took place was a big one in Onitsha, the commercial heartland of Igboland called by the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob). As a result of the protest, commercial and social activities were disrupted in Onitsha and the neighbouring city of Asaba in Delta State.
Police warned against violence, vowing to resist violence by the agitators, who they said planned to embark on ill-advised protests using dangerous weapon across some southeastern states. Although, the circumstances of the death of the victim were not immediately clear, it is believe the man was shot by the police.
Philip Ezekiel, the Onitsha Police Area commander said that the police were not responsible for the man’s death as there was no clash whatsoever between the protesters and the police anywhere in the state. Another source said the man was killed by members of a vigilance group and three persons were allegedly injured.
Ahead of the match, thousands of Ipob supporters had gathered round the Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Statue by the River Niger bridgehead chanting and dancing pro-Ojukwu and Biafran songs. From that spot they marched to the Upper Iweka Flyover denouncing then federal government, police and the army in their songs.
They also asked for the immediate release of Mr Kanu and other Biafran activists from custody. Many of the protesters wore no shirts and adorned their heads and left arms with palm fronds while chanting solidarity songs.
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