A group of Nigerians in the United States on Monday stormed the Nigerian House in New York, demanding the immediate release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a video shared by human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, the protesters were seen chanting and displaying placards, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of injustice and tyranny.

“Power belongs to the people Ahmed Bola Tinubu, you are our President by election if that is actually the case. But we know that election and the electoral system in Nigeria is rigged so we want to send a clear message to you that we concerned Nigerians in diaspora are aware and awake to speak truth to power, you are a criminal President and it’s being confirmed by the United States of America,” the protesters stated.

They further called on President Tinubu to demonstrate respect for human rights by freeing Kanu.

“If you have any iota of dignity, set Mazi Nnamdi Kanu free,” one of the protesters declared.

Describing Kanu as a prisoner of conscience, the group condemned the Nigerian government’s continued detention of the separatist leader despite court rulings ordering his release.

“He was tried in a court and the same court gave him freedom but you evil Nigerian government have kept holding him captive,” the protesters said.

Sowore had cautioned that the Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government’s continued refusal to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, could further intensify public agitation across the country.

Sowore gave the warning during the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja, where demonstrators have been demanding the immediate release of the separatist leader who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021.

“Today will be different and nobody can stop this spirit and this is to ensure that we bring our brother home,” Sowore said while speaking to NewsCentral TV.

He alleged that the police and other security operatives repeatedly used teargas to disperse the demonstrators at different locations in Abuja, but they continued to regroup.

“They teargassed us, we relocated to Utako, they teargassed us, we relocated to Apo, Apo has the biggest so far and that is to show to you that very soon, this will get out of hand if they don’t do something about releasing Nnamdi Kanu,” he said.

Reiterating that the protesters were not inciting violence, Sowore stressed that their action was a call for justice and fairness.

“We are not threatening violence, we are just saying that in this country we all deserve a right to be citizens. If you want us to be citizens in this country, if you don’t want Nigerians to be citizens in their own country, let those who want to go, go,” he stated.

The ongoing demonstrations in Abuja are part of renewed calls by activists and supporters demanding that the federal government comply with previous court rulings ordering Kanu’s release.

Earlier, Sowore  accused Nigerian security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack and shooting live bullets at the #FreeNnamdiKanu peaceful protesters in Abuja.

Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Sowore alleged that security forces opened fire at the protesters shortly after the protest began in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where protesters had gathered to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), alleged that a combined team of the police, soldiers, and civil defence personnel carried out the operation, firing both tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the protesters.

“There were about 10 trucks that arrived as soon as we started the protest. There was no provocation on our part, like we had promised. It was an orderly and peaceful protest,” Sowore said.

“Suddenly, from nowhere, they started shooting at us, tear gas, and some live bullets were fired. Luckily, I don’t think anybody was hit with live bullets, but they were just shooting all around us.”

Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, described the government’s continued detention of Kanu as “a sham designed to obstruct justice”.