The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has once again called on the federal government to release its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, citing concerns over his worsening health condition while in custody. According to IPOB, Kanu’s prolonged detention without proper medical care is becoming life-threatening.
In a statement, the pro-Biafra group accused the government, judiciary, Department of State Services (DSS), and certain Igbo politicians of conspiring to eliminate Kanu. The group highlighted that despite being acquitted of all charges by the Nigerian Appeal Court, Kanu remains detained in what IPOB describes as a violation of both his human and legal rights.
IPOB warned that there would be dire consequences should any harm come to Kanu while he remains in detention. The group expressed frustration over what they consider to be a deliberate attempt by the government to undermine both IPOB and the Biafran self-determination movement. They cautioned that while they have pursued a non-violent approach to their struggle, continued provocation could lead to a shift in strategy.
“We have repeatedly demanded for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, as ordered by the Nigerian Appeal Court, which discharged and acquitted him of all charges. Similarly, the Supreme Court had ruled that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not jump bail. The same Apex Court declared his abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria illegal,” IPOB stated.
The group questioned why, despite these court rulings, Kanu continues to be held in solitary confinement. They accused the DSS and federal government of neglecting Kanu’s health needs, resulting in his deteriorating condition. IPOB also reminded the Nigerian government that they had not been able to destroy the group since Kanu’s abduction and extraordinary rendition in 2021, warning that any attempts to do so now would equally fail.
“The Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to enable him to properly address his health issues. It is now evident that his deteriorating health condition is a direct result of the Nigerian government’s and DSS’s neglect in providing him with the necessary medical care.”
IPOB further urged the Nigerian judiciary to act independently and resist collusion with the executive branch of the government, particularly the DSS, to violate Kanu’s rights. The group stressed that any continued delay in releasing Kanu would be seen as further evidence of judicial compromise.
In their appeal, IPOB called on the international community, including the United Nations, Human Rights Council, African Union, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, to intervene. They urged these bodies to pressure the Nigerian government into releasing Kanu to prevent his health from worsening further.
“Why keep an innocent man in solitary confinement to suffer for no reason, even after the courts have declared his detention illegal and an abuse of his fundamental human rights?” the group asked. IPOB emphasized that Kanu’s only crime was championing the Biafran self-determination struggle, which aligns with both the UN convention and the African Charter on People’s Rights.
IPOB assured the
Nigerian government and other parties that the struggle for the freedom of the Biafran people is unwavering and unstoppable.