Protest: Ohanaeze applauds US Ambassador’s directive for USA citizens to obey sit-at-home 

…US Embassy Support Oct. 20th  Lockdown in Abuja

By Uchenna Okeh 

The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka has ahead of the applauded the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills, for advising US citizens to comply with the October 20 total lockdown.

Ohanaeze youth made this known, few days to the nationwide protest led by Omoyele Sowore, calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB.

Igboayaka, in a statement signed and issued to newsmen on Saturday, said that the sit-at-home directive came as a result of the Ohanaeze’s open letter to the US Ambassador, Abuja, dated 15th Oct. 2025, requesting the presence of foreign observers.

According to Igboayaka, the U.S. Embassy’s website issued a cautionary statement on Friday, warning that the planned protest may be characterized by “roadblocks, traffic congestion, and confrontations between police and protestors that could turn violent.

”The U.S. embassy expressed concerns that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lacks the democratic capacity to manage the protesters, given his undemocratic principles.

Consequently, the US Embassy advised Americans in Abuja to “avoid this area and severely limit all movement throughout the city on Monday, October 20.”

He emphasized to the US Embassy that advising its citizens to stay indoors and lock down their offices is not enough, and that deploying foreign observers to the nationwide protest for Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom is crucial.

“The lockdown in Abuja, as suggested by the US Embassy to its citizens, is necessary and should apply to all residents of Abuja, to prevent Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s undemocratic government from looting shops and offices using thugs and then blaming it on protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu”

“All countries’ embassies in Nigeria should dispatch observers to monitor the nationwide protest scheduled for 20th October, demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, led by Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the AAC and prominent Nigerian activist, he stated.

Igboayaka advocated that the Embassy advising that “children in Abuja stay home from school” and that “domestic staff who travel from outside of Abuja should stay home as well. 

“is a safety measure, in light of president Bola Tinubu’s approach to democratic principles and human fundamental rights of Nigeria citizens.