The Indigenous People of Biafra issued a stern warning on Wednesday to certain Igbo politicians whom they accused of undermining efforts to secure the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement released by IPOB’s Secretary for Media and Publicity, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group alleged that some politicians have been working against Kanu’s release by meeting with Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to persuade him not to support the cause.
IPOB claimed that their investigations had uncovered secret meetings between these politicians and Governor Otti aimed at thwarting Kanu’s release from detention. The statement declared, “If they continue with their sabotage, their names will be made public soon. Also, some of the political jobbers in the Southeast region working against the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should know that we are following the activities closely.”
Powerful criticized the alleged saboteurs for their covert efforts to undermine the campaign for Kanu’s release, asserting that IPOB is vigilant and well-informed about activities aimed at obstructing their leader’s freedom. The statement continued, “The unscrupulous individuals hold secret meetings with South East Governors to frustrate the clarion call of the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who incidentally is the only political prisoner in Nigeria currently.”
IPOB reiterated their position that Kanu’s detention is unlawful and in violation of international law, citing that he was kidnapped in Kenya and extraordinarily rendered to Nigeria, which contravenes international extradition agreements. “The IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has not committed any crime known to law internationally or locally. He is being detained illegally for more than 3 years by the Nigerian government after he was kidnapped in Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria in violation of international extradition laws.”
The group also emphasized that Kanu’s ongoing detention represents a gross violation of a Court of Appeal judgment and a blatant disregard for the rights of the Igbo people. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s continuous detention is a gross violation of Appeal Court judgment and a slap on Ndigbo’s face as a race.”
IPOB maintained that there is no legitimate case against Kanu and called for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s decision. They argued that his continued detention signifies ethnic discrimination, stating, “The continuous illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is discrimination against Ndigbo. The Nigerian government has dropped cases and charges against political prisoners from other ethnic groups but kept only Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in their detention because he is an Igbo man. Does it not mean that Ndigbo mean nothing in Nigeria?”
Finally, the statement warned that those working to obstruct Kanu’s release are not only opposing Kanu but are also betraying the Igbo community. “The unscrupulous politicians from the South Eastern region sabotaging the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu are not only working against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but also sabotaging Ndigbo as a whole.”
