PHOTOS: Igbo youths protest in Rivers over arrest of Radio Biafra director

Economic activities in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, were paralysed on Tuesday as thousands of Igbo youths and separatists took to the street, protesting the arrest of the director of the Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The protesters had gathered at the Ikokwu Market axis of Ikwerre Road as early as 8:00 a.m., from where they moved round some other parts of the Port Harcourt metropolis, chanting protest songs and demanding for the recognition of the Biafran Republic.


Many of the commercial banks operating in the state capital, especially along Ikwerre Road, Olu Obasanjo Road and Water-Line, as well as traders and spare parts dealers hurriedly closed their offices and locked up their shops to prevent looting.

From Ikokwu, the agitators moved Rumuola, passing through Aba Road and took their protest to the Government House area, through Lagos and Ikwerre Road and ended up at Ikokwu.

The protesters said they were operating under the aegis of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), adding that the protest was being carried out simultaneously in all Igbo-speaking states across the country, as well as by people who believed in the Biafran cause.

They hung the Biafran flag and carried placards with various inscriptions.

While there was no form of intimidation of passers-by during the protest, the protesters were however seen tearing and destroying the Nigerian flag hoisted on some buildings along their path.

Though the protest was peaceful, there was tight security at the Government House were two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were mounted and with heavy presence of security agents to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Security personnel, including the police and army, were also seen in their patrol vans, closely following the protesters along Ikwerre Road as a preventive measure against the possibility of the protest becoming violent.

While there was no form of arrest or harassment while the protest lasted, the protesters were however later dispersed at the UST Junction/Ikokwu axis by some policemen who shot canisters of tear gas into their midst.

The spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, however denied insinuations that arrest were made but noted to there was security presence to maintain law and order.

Credit: Dapo Falade/Nigerian Tribune