Sokoto — December 7, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Residents near the Sokoto Central Correctional Centre have expressed mounting tension and anxiety since the arrival of the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu now serving a life sentence there.
The normally busy area of Yar Marina close to the Sultan’s Palace and the administrative seat of Sokoto North has transformed overnight: installation of security checkpoints, heavy patrols, and restricted movement have unsettled locals.
Many recall previous high-profile inmates at the facility, but say nothing compares to the “constant flurry of visitors, lawyers, sympathizers and top politicians” now converging on the area. A veteran journalist based in Sokoto warned that the presence of such a high-profile prisoner could reignite fear and insecurity in a state already grappling with volatile security challenges.
Traders and shop-owners report doing business under a cloud of caution: night-time movement has dropped, and some families now hesitate to go out after dark. Others worry about possible reprisals whether from supporters or opponents arguing that the detention facility’s proximity to densely populated civilian neighbourhoods heightens the risk of collateral harm or unrest.
Meanwhile, the legal team representing Kanu has described the transfer to Sokoto over 700 kilometres from Abuja, where his trial was held as problematic, arguing it compounds difficulty in accessing counsel, and undermines his constitutional right to appeal.
As Sokoto residents brace for uncertainty, many call on authorities to ensure strict security and transparency while expressing hope that the community does not become collateral damage in the wider political drama surrounding Kanu.