An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty has gripped Sokoto metropolis following the transfer and detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Central Correctional Centre, with residents describing him as an “unusual prisoner” attracting unprecedented security attention.
Kanu, who is serving a life sentence after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him, was relocated to Sokoto under the authorisation of Justice James Omotosho, who granted the DSS powers to hold him in any facility across the country — a decision some legal experts have criticised.
His arrival has since altered the daily rhythm of Yar Marina, the city’s busy corridor that hosts the correctional centre, the Sultan’s Palace, police formations and administrative offices.
From heavy patrol vehicles to fortified checkpoints and restricted movement, locals say Sokoto has not witnessed such tension in years.
“We woke up to heavy deployment around the prison,” said trader Alhaji Sani Alfa, whose shop sits a short distance from the facility.
“At first, we didn’t know why. But when we heard Kanu was here, everything changed. People now conduct business with fear and caution.”
Journalist Kabiru Mohammed Gobirawa, who has lived in the city for decades, said this is only the second time Sokoto is hosting a high-profile inmate attracting nationwide attention.
He recalled that the prison once held former NYSC Director-General, Col. Peter Obasa (retd.), in the 1980s.
“But Obasa did not draw visitors the way Kanu does,” Gobirawa noted.
“Our hope is that his presence does not escalate tension in a state already dealing with security challenges for almost ten years.”
The streets surrounding the prison — already marked by the scars of past terror attacks — have become even more sensitive. Buildings near the AIG Zone 10 office still bear marks from a 2016 bomb blast that killed a policeman during prayers.
Many families told PLATFORM TIMES they now limit movement, particularly at night, due to the influx of security operatives.
“There are soldiers, police and patrol vans everywhere,” said resident Fatima Mai Masa.
“Even children know something is happening. The fear is not just about Kanu but what his detention could trigger from supporters or enemies.”
Every high-level visit, residents say, sends a fresh wave of anxiety through the area.
Shop owner Muchedi Dan Marina explained:
“When someone important comes to see him, security doubles instantly. You don’t know what could happen next.”
The visit of Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, to Kanu last week triggered political controversy in Sokoto.
Speculation spread that Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu accompanied Otti to the custodial centre, but the state government swiftly denied the claim.
In a statement, Aliyu’s spokesperson Abubakar Bawa described the reports as “misleading and completely untrue,” insisting the governor was in Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj at the time.
Bawa clarified that Otti was received at the airport by commissioners and aides who only provided protocol assistance, stressing Sokoto’s long-standing tradition of hospitality “regardless of ethnicity, region or faith.”
Kanu’s lawyers, led by Dr Maxwell Opara, visited him last Sunday. They left the facility with voluminous documents believed to be tied to his appeal.
Opara later told journalists that while Kanu remained “mentally strong,” his transfer to Sokoto had created unnecessary barriers.
“Our concern is access,” he said.
“The legal team is in Abuja, the processes are there, yet he is kept far away. It complicates everything.”
Another lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, criticised the relocation on social media, saying it had “placed needless obstacles between Kanu, his family and counsel.”
Correctional authorities offered no formal explanation, though an insider confirmed that Kanu is under “strict monitoring” with highly restricted entry.
Reporters attempting to access streets leading to the prison were turned back by security agents who also frisked residents and passersby before granting movement.
For now, Sokoto lives under quiet tension — businesses open cautiously, families move with restraint and conversations on the streets remain hushed.
As one resident put it: “Sokoto is calm on the surface, but beneath, everybody is watching the prison walls.”
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