The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) Worldwide has declared a total nationwide shutdown of all Igbo-owned shops, markets, companies, and transport operations on Monday, October 20, 2025, in solidarity with a peaceful protest march to Aso Rock led by activist Omoyele Sowore to demand the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement signed by Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of the OYC, the group described the directive as a moral, lawful, and patriotic action aimed at compelling the Federal Government to comply with court judgments ordering Kanu’s release.
“We cannot continue business as usual while a son of Igboland remains unjustly detained against multiple court orders,” Igboayaka stated. “This is a peaceful declaration that the Igbo nation stands with truth, justice, and the rule of law.”
According to the directive, all Igbo-owned businesses across Nigeria—including shops, markets, transport services, and offices—must close completely on October 20 in solidarity with the peaceful protest.
In Abuja, Igbos are instructed to join the Sowore-led protest march to Aso Rock, maintaining decorum and discipline.
In other states, all Igbo business operators are to observe a full-day shutdown to amplify the collective call for justice.
Market and union leaders have been mandated to ensure total compliance within their jurisdictions. The council emphasized that the protest is non-violent and should reflect the unity and moral conscience of the Igbo people.
The OYC also appealed to the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence Corps, Fire Service, and the Red Cross to be on standby during the protest to safeguard citizens and ensure the peaceful exercise of their constitutional rights.
Comrade Igboayaka condemned what he described as selective justice in Nigeria’s handling of national issues, questioning why terrorists and bandits in the North are granted amnesty while Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who merely exercised his right to free speech, remains incarcerated.
“The continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, despite valid court orders, is not just an Igbo issue—it is a national stain on Nigeria’s democracy,” he declared. “While criminals are forgiven, a man calling for dialogue and self-determination remains in chains. That is not justice; it is persecution.”
“An Injury to One Is an Injury to All”
The OYC urged all Igbos—whether in Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Lagos, Jos, Port Harcourt, Kano, or Abuja—to stand as one on the scheduled day.
“Let every Igbo market and business center fall silent in dignified solidarity. Let the world witness our unity, and let the Federal Government hear our collective voice,” the statement said.
The organization reiterated that the protest is not a rebellion, but a peaceful stand for equity, justice, and human rights. It called on the Federal Government to immediately obey court rulings and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to restore public trust in the justice system.
The OYC emphasized that the handling of Kanu’s case will determine the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy and its respect for the rule of law.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom is not only an Igbo affair—it is a test of Nigeria’s judicial integrity and a reflection of how far we are willing to go to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen,” the group said.
As October 20 approaches, the OYC called for unity, peace, and total compliance, declaring that “an injury to one of us is an injury to all.”
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