Asari Dokubo, a well-known Niger Delta leader, has vehemently opposed Nnamdi Kanu’s release as the head of the illegal Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), claiming that doing so would amount to encouraging criminal behaviour.
Kanu, who is currently being held on terrorism-related charges, has reportedly been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his 2021 re-arrest.
Kanu had been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja back in 2017, but he willfully disregarded the terms and left the country. President Muhammadu Buhari had steadfastly resisted such demands despite growing pressure for Kanu’s release. But now that a new administration is in charge, new demands for the IPOB leader’s release have surfaced.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State had joined in calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release during his meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Asari Dokubo recently told reporters after speaking with President Tinubu that he thought Kanu ought to be held legally accountable.
Dokubo emphasised the risks of releasing Kanu by bringing up his alleged role in inflaming the EndSars demonstrations. Dokubo claimed that Kanu had been running loose during the EndSars movement and had even made things worse.
Dokubo brought up the issue of the people who perished in the unrest while referring to Kanu as a criminal who ought to be held accountable for his actions.
“His release would encourage impunity; Nnamdi Kanu was free during EndSars. How did he act? He doused EndSars’ flames in petrol. He has now been apprehended. What about those who passed away? This is unlawful. He must answer to the law.
“Releasing Nnamdi Kanu is rewarding crime and the horrifying killing of innocent people. According to him, he needs to answer to the law for the deeds and instigations he committed.
This newspaper previously highlighted Dokubo’s claim to Tinubu that widespread oil theft in the nation was caused by the military and powerful organisations.
Dokubo offered his followers’ help in the fight to put an end to it. He declared his readiness to use his band of devoted followers, referred to as “his boys,” to take the necessary steps to put an end to these nefarious activities.
