Sokoto Residents Uneasy as Nnamdi Kanu Serves Sentence in Local Prison

The presence of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Central Correctional Centre has sparked tension across the city. Residents of Yar Marina, the neighbourhood that houses the prison, say the high‑profile inmate’s arrival has altered daily life and heightened security concerns.

Kanu was transferred to Sokoto after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment and granted the Department of State Services (DSS) authority to detain him in any Nigerian prison. The decision, which many lawyers have questioned, placed him just a short distance from the Sultan’s Palace and the administrative headquarters of Sokoto North Local Government Area.

Local journalist Kabiru Mohammed Gobirawa, who has covered the story since the transfer, noted that this is the second time a high‑profile inmate has attracted national attention in Sokoto. He recalled that former NYSC Director‑General Colonel Peter Obasa (retd.) served a prison term there in the 1980s, but without the intense media and security presence that surrounds Kanu.

Since the transfer, the area around the prison has changed dramatically. Security checkpoints have been set up, patrols are more visible, and movement near the facility is heavily restricted. The prison sits close to the headquarters of Police Zone 10 and the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, a location that already bears the scars of a 2016 suicide‑bomb attack that killed a policeman.

Residents describe a lingering sense of unease despite outward normalcy. Markets, schools and transport services continue to operate, but people are more cautious, especially after dark. Trader Alhaji Sani Alfa said the heavy deployment of security forces has forced everyone to be vigilant: “We are doing business, yes, but with fear and caution.”

The situation has been further inflamed by high‑level visits. Last week, Abia State Governor Alex Otti arrived at the prison, prompting a surge in security measures and additional

The presence of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Central Correctional Centre has sparked tension across the city. Residents of Yar Marina, the neighbourhood that houses the prison, say the high‑profile inmate’s arrival has altered daily life and heightened security concerns.

Kanu was transferred to Sokoto after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment and granted the Department of State Services (DSS) authority to detain him in any Nigerian prison. The decision, which many lawyers have questioned, placed him just a short distance from the Sultan’s Palace and the administrative headquarters of Sokoto North Local Government Area.

Local journalist Kabiru Mohammed Gobirawa, who has covered the story since the transfer, noted that this is the second time a high‑profile inmate has attracted national attention in Sokoto. He recalled that former NYSC Director‑General Colonel Peter Obasa (retd.) served a prison term there in the 1980s, but without the intense media and security presence that surrounds Kanu.

Since the transfer, the area around the prison has changed dramatically. Security checkpoints have been set up, patrols are more visible, and movement near the facility is heavily restricted. The prison sits close to the headquarters of Police Zone 10 and the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, a location that already bears the scars of a 2016 suicide‑bomb attack that killed a policeman.

Residents describe a lingering sense of unease despite outward normalcy. Markets, schools and transport services continue to operate, but people are more cautious, especially after dark. Trader Alhaji Sani Alfa said the heavy deployment of security forces has forced everyone to be vigilant: “We are doing business, yes, but with fear and caution.”

The situation has been further inflamed by high‑level visits. Last week, Abia State Governor Alex Otti arrived at the prison, prompting a surge in security measures and additional anxiety among locals. Kanu’s legal team, led by Dr Maxwell Opara, visited the facility and reported that the IPOB leader is mentally strong and preparing for a legal review of his conviction. Opara questioned the logic of moving Kanu to Sokoto, far from his legal base in Abuja, arguing that it hampers access to counsel and family.

Aloy Ejimakor, another member of Kanu’s defence team, echoed the concern on social media, saying the relocation creates unnecessary barriers between the activist, his family and his lawyers.

Correctional officials have not provided a detailed explanation for the transfer. A staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Kanu is being held under strict monitoring and that entry to the facility is tightly controlled.

The Sokoto State government has denied claims that Governor Ahmed Aliyu accompanied Governor Otti on the visit, stating that Aliyu was in Saudi Arabia performing the Lesser Hajj at the time.

As security remains heavy and residents remain on edge, the city awaits clarification on how long Kanu will remain in Sokoto and what impact his presence will have on the already fragile security situation in the state.