Daniel Otera
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans for a national protest on October 20, 2025, to demand the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The rally will see students from the North Central region gathering in Lokoja, Kogi State, as their central hub. This demonstration comes amidst mounting frustrations over prolonged court delays and what many see as an overreach by the federal government in security matters, further deepening the country’s ethnic divisions.
Kanu, who has been detained since his controversial extradition from Kenya in June 2021, has become a symbol of broader grievances against the federal government. Despite several court rulings demanding his release, including the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that declared his extradition unlawful, he remains in custody. Recent decisions, such as the Federal High Court’s rejection of his no-case submission in September 2025, have only fueled public outrage. His prolonged detention, despite legal challenges, has raised concerns about Nigeria’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, drawing attention from both local and international observers.
In response, NANS has mobilized students across Nigeria for coordinated protests, with transport logistics provided for participants in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones. Students from the North Central region will converge in Lokoja, the state capital of Kogi, before potentially proceeding to Abuja depending on the turnout. NANS Senate President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, emphasized in a memo: “We cannot sit back while our brother rots in jail without a fair trial. This protest is for justice, not division.”
The October 20 protests will also serve as a reminder of NANS’ shift from purely educational concerns to broader political activism. Over the years, NANS has become a leading force in addressing national issues from economic protests in 2015 to advocating for electoral reforms in the 2023 elections and fighting against police brutality during the #EndSARS movement in 2020. This growing political engagement signifies a shift in student priorities, moving beyond campus issues to demand justice, human rights, and a fairer political landscape for all Nigerians.
NANS’ activism has evolved significantly over the past decade, expanding from campus-centric issues to addressing broader national and political concerns. Below is a breakdown of key protests and the student body’s shifting priorities:
NANS organized one of its first major national protests against the hike in fuel prices under President Goodluck Jonathan, drawing around 5,000 students primarily from urban campuses. The protests were centered on the economic strain caused by fuel price increases and marked a shift in NANS’ focus from solely educational matters to broader economic concerns affecting Nigerian students.
In 2018, NANS played a prominent role in organizing protests during the prolonged ASUU strike, which kept over 1.2 million students out of school. The protests focused on demands for N1.3 trillion in back pay for university staff and highlighted the student body’s growing involvement in debates around educational funding and reforms.
The #EndSARS movement marked a significant turning point in NANS’ activism. The student body joined the nationwide protests against police brutality, organizing 22 zonal rallies across the country. The movement, which involved around 500,000 participants, expanded NANS’ scope beyond university campuses to address human rights, governance, and systemic injustice in Nigerian society.
In the lead-up to the 2023 presidential elections, NANS became actively involved in election monitoring efforts across 28 states, protesting electoral malpractice and the growing ethnic divisions in voting patterns. Their focus on electoral transparency marked a clear political stance, advocating for reforms to unite the nation and ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
Following the government’s removal of fuel subsidies, NANS organized protests in 2024, with more than 10,000 students marching in Abuja alone. These protests highlighted the financial hardships faced by students and Nigerians in general, urging the government to reconsider the economic impacts of such policies on the average citizen.
The most recent phase in NANS’ activism centers around the case of Nnamdi Kanu. Framing his prolonged detention as a test of Nigeria’s federal balance, NANS’ involvement in this cause underscores their growing interest in political justice and the rights of political detainees. NANS’ position on this issue emphasizes the importance of due process, habeas corpus, and the treatment of detainees, reflecting broader concerns about human rights in Nigeria.
The selection of Kogi State as the base for the North Central protest raises questions about ethnic and political tensions in the region. In the 2023 presidential elections, Kogi presented a divided electorate, with Bola Tinubu of the APC narrowly edging out Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the state. Kogi’s complex ethnic makeup, including significant Igbo populations in local areas like Dekina and Idah, suggests that regional and ethnic affiliations will play a critical role in shaping the protests.
The voting pattern in Kogi was heavily influenced by these ethnic divisions. Obi’s support was particularly strong among Igbo communities, where he garnered over 60% of the vote in places like Dekina and Idah. In contrast, Tinubu maintained a strong lead across the broader population, securing 42% of the total vote in Kogi. These figures reflect the deep historical and ethnic tensions that continue to shape political alignments in the North Central region.
The region’s complexity is further reflected in its history of ethnic and resource-based conflicts. For example, Kogi State recorded 45 incidents of conflict in 2024, with ethnic and land-based disputes fueling much of the unrest. One significant incident occurred in April 2024, when Fulani herders attacked Tiv farmers in Omala Local Government Area, leading to 21 fatalities (Reuters, 2024). These conflicts continue to influence both the political landscape and public opinion, underscoring the challenges of maintaining unity in a region marked by longstanding grievances.
NANS has progressively broadened its scope, evolving from a student body focused on educational issues to a national force for social, political, and economic justice. From opposing fuel price hikes to advocating for the rights of political detainees, the student body’s shifting priorities over the last decade illustrate a growing awareness of the broader implications of government policies and their impact on the everyday lives of Nigerians.
As Nigeria marks four years of Kanu’s detention, the October 20 rally represents a critical moment for NANS, as it navigates new forms of activism that transcend traditional student concerns. The rally not only calls for Kanu’s release but also stands as a symbol of youth engagement in shaping the future of Nigerian democracy.
While the event aims for peaceful demonstrations, with NANS urging protesters to maintain order, it also signals the start of a new era for student activism. As Comrade Yusuf Abdullahi, the North Central coordinator, reminded members, “We go by road and voice, no violence.”