The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have raised concerns over the deteriorating health condition of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, urging the Federal Government to release him to prevent potential danger.
IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Wednesday, also accused the Federal Government of intentionally provoking the group by refusing to release Kanu, even when the courts have ordered his unconditional release.
The statement read, “The global family of IPOB, once again call for the unconditional release of our leader from DSS solidarity confinement over his deteriorating health condition. The Federal Government is intentionally provoking IPOB by refusing to release our leader even when the Nigerian and international courts have ordered his unconditional release.
“IPOB wishes to reiterate that the life of our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is in danger in the solitary confinement of the DSS in Abuja. We have persistently called on the Federal Government to release our leader as both international and local law institutions have ordered his release.”
Powerful also expressed concern that despite calls for his release from prominent Nigerians, including religious and traditional leaders as well as members of the National Assembly, the Federal Government has disregarded these appeals to release Kanu.
It noted that the disposition of the Tinubu’s administration over the embattled IPOB leader was similar to the approach taken by administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Tinubu’s government has discontinued similar cases of terrorism and treason charges against two Yoruba activists and a Fulani militia leader.
“In the case of an Igbo man, unarmed freedom activist Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, this same government, has vehemently refused to release him. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had subsisting local and international judgments that ordered for his release, unlike the other cases discontinued by the federal government without any court judgment.
“We are enumerating all these injustices to demonstrate that the Federal Government of Nigeria is intentionally provoking the anger of IPOB and Ndigbo. IPOB has maintained a non-violent approach in the Biafra struggle irrespective of the high-handedness of the Nigerian government against Biafra activists.
“Kanu is seriously sick and must be released unconditionally from DSS solidarity confinement for him to treat himself before something unpredictable and unimaginable happens to him,” the statement read.
The group charged President Tinubu to free Kanu so that he can receive medical interventions before it is too late, alleging that IPOB members have been persecuted for over a decade by Nigerians because of Biafra’s self-determination.
Kanu has been in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since his extradition from Kenya in 2021.
“Kanu has been detained in solitary confinement for over three years. Although no court in Nigeria has found him guilty, yet he is being persecuted by the tribal bigot government of Nigeria.
“President Bola Tinubu, please note that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is sick and something terrible can happen to him if he is not released,” the group added.
