Emma Powerful, the spokesman of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on the federal Government to without delay or conditions release the detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The call was made on the background of the worsening security situation in Abuja particularly with a threat by terrorist group to attack the FCT.
The spokesman of the group warned against any harm happening to the detained IPOB leader who has been in the DSS custody since he was brought back from Kenya last year.
Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for the offence of treason levelled against him by the Nigerian government, before Justice Binta Nyako’s court in the federal capital territory.
In a statement, Emma Powerful stated, “The attention of the global family and friends of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn to the sudden closure of public schools in Abuja because of threats by terrorists groomed by the Fulani people to take over Abuja and Nigeria; IPOB therefore demand the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS Dungeon in Abuja.”
The group in the statement further hammered on the deplorable security situation in Nigeria, hence the call to free the IPOB leader before harm befalls him.
The IPOB spokesman further reminded the FG of the call by the UN Rights group to unconditionally release Nnamdi Kanu.
Takeaway:
Clariform reminds our readers of reports from various media earlier in the week sighting UN Rights group call for the unconventional release of Nnamdi Kanu, who was brought back to Nigeria in an unconventional manner that drew international condemnation for the Nigerian and Kenya government.
The extrajudicial manner employed by the Nigerian government to get back Nnamdi Kanu ran foul of international laws in the extradition of citizens for trial according to the UN body and many other experts who have weighed into the issue.
Background:
Recall that the Nigerian government had in September 2017 proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group.
This was following the groups agitation for a separate State of Biafra for states that were part of the old Eastern region which fought a gruesome 30 months civil war against the Federal government between May 1967 to January 1970.
Dissatisfied with the marginalization of the region, especially the present day South East which is home to many Igbo people of Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanu`s IPOB like other separatists group such as MASSOB (Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra) led by Raph Uwazurike has renewed agitation for Biafra.
However, it’s Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB that has drawn the irk of the present Nigerian government more than any separatist group.
The above may not be unconnected with the use of violent words and threat to violence by the IPOB leader and many of the organisations youthful followers who are unsatisfied with the state of affairs in Nigeria.
Kanu was arrested, charged to court for trial but granted bail in April 2017. However, by 2018, he was unable to continue with his trial, a situation his lawyers blamed on the invasion of his country home in Afaraukwu Abia State by the Nigerian military.
The invasion was reported to have led to the death of his parents. Kanu had since then operated from outside the country until his extrajudicial rendition from Kenya.
