The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has announced a nationwide closure of all Igbo-owned businesses on Monday, October 20, 2025, in a powerful show of solidarity for the ongoing call to free detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to a statement issued by the group’s National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, the shutdown will affect every Igbo market, company, and transport operation across Nigeria. The council said the move is a peaceful show of unity and a demand for justice, aligning with the planned march to Aso Rock being led by activist Omoyele Sowore.
Igboayaka described the decision as “a moral and patriotic duty” aimed at reminding the federal government of its obligation to obey court rulings ordering Kanu’s release. He stressed that it is unjust to continue “business as usual” while an Igbo son remains in detention despite legal judgments in his favor.
The OYC’s directive calls on all Igbos residing in Abuja to participate in the peaceful protest to Aso Rock, while those in other states are instructed to shut down their businesses for the day. Market and transport leaders have also been urged to enforce full compliance with the directive.
The youth group emphasized that the demonstration will be entirely non-violent and appealed to security agencies to maintain professionalism throughout the protest. It also called on the Nigeria Police, Civil Defense Corps, Fire Service, and Red Cross to provide safety and humanitarian support as citizens exercise their constitutional rights.
“This is not an act of rebellion,” the OYC clarified. “It is a peaceful expression of conscience — a collective message that the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu represents deep-rooted injustice and political persecution against the Igbo people.”
The statement criticized what it described as the federal government’s “double standards,” noting that while terrorists and bandits in northern Nigeria are often granted amnesty or negotiated with, Nnamdi Kanu emains behind bars.
The group warned that the government’s refusal to comply with court orders threatens democracy and national unity. “Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom is not just an Igbo issue,” it said. “It is a litmus test of Nigeria’s commitment to fairness, equality, and the rule of law.”
OYC urged every Igbo across the country to join the shutdown, describing it as a day for collective reflection and solidarity. “From Aba to Lagos, Onitsha to Jos, Enugu to Kano, and Port Harcourt to Abuja — let every Igbo business go silent in unity,” the statement read.
“Let the world see our resolve. Let the Nigerian government hear our voice. Justice must prevail for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”