The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a “prisoner of conscience” and called for his immediate release. The group emphasized that Kanu remains in custody because of his refusal to compromise on his stance for Biafran independence.
In a statement released by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group accused the Nigerian government of orchestrating Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021 and detaining him illegally despite court rulings in his favor.
“Nigeria is illegally detaining him while they are targeting to destroy IPOB. Unfortunately, the indestructible ideology of restoring Biafra has kept IPOB moving along in our quest to restore the sovereign nation of Biafra,” the statement read.
Powerful noted that in October 2022, a Nigerian Appeals Court discharged and acquitted Kanu, but the government has refused to release him.
“The UN Committee on Arbitrary Detention condemned the abduction, extraordinary rendition, and illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and called for his unconditional release,” the statement added, accusing the Nigerian government of disobeying both court rulings and international resolutions.
IPOB argued that Kanu’s detention is part of a broader campaign of ethnic persecution against the Igbo people.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is being persecuted, not prosecuted. The Nigerian government should understand that IPOB cannot be destroyed but can only be emboldened as long as the lawless Nigerian government keeps persecuting us,” the statement said.
The group further assured that it remains resolute in its demand for a referendum on Biafra’s independence and warned that Nigeria’s continued persecution of Kanu will further expose the flaws of its democracy.
“In the end, Biafra will come, but the wounds of the persecution and wickedness against Ndigbo will take decades to heal,” IPOB concluded.