A viral video on TikTok has attributed a large crowd of protesters to Nigerians demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Abuja.
The video was shared on Monday as activists converged on different locations in Abuja for the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.
The protest is the brainchild of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and ex-presidential candidate, who has been mounting a campaign for Kanu’s release since the turn of the year.
Since his re-arrest in June 2021, Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he faces an ongoing trial at the federal high court in Abuja.
“Happening live in Abuja,” the TikTok video caption said.
It has gathered 840k views, 57.3k likes and over 5,000 shares.
The video was also watermarked with the same caption alongside a defiant picture of Kanu striking a pose with a fist in the air, flanked by a Biafran flag.
A large crowd of protesters marched through streets with landmarks unfamiliar to Abuja.
CableCheck observed that the protesters were waving Nepalese flags.
Reverse image searches showed that the videos were posted in September as violent youth-led protests raged across Nepal.
The protests were triggered by the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms.
The ban was later lifted as the protests intensified.
VERDICT
The protest video is from NEPAL, and not protesters calling for Kanu’s release in Abuja.
