The family of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that political leaders in the South-East have all abandoned him to die in the custody of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) where he has been detained since his arrest and rendition from Kenya in 2021.
In a statement on Thursday issued on behalf of the family by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, the family questioned why political leaders from the region had refused to meet with President Bola Tinubu to specifically address Kanu’s situation and find ways to release him almost year since the president assumed office.
“How be it that nobody among Igbo political leaders has reached Tinubu to discuss Nnamdi Kanu’s release almost a year after he came to power?” The statement queried, adding that the leaders in the region are just waiting for Kanu to die in detention.
“Is it not deliberate? Have they not been gaining access to the President concerning other issues? It’s a shame that Kanu is being punished for asking for the freedom of Ndigbo, and the leaders have abandoned him to die in DSS custody.”
Additionally, Emmanuel said that certain anonymous individuals were profiting from Kanu’s prolonged detention, pointing out that this was clear from the political elite of Igbo descent’s unwillingness to discuss the President’s release.
“Why can’t they go for his release if they truly love the South-East? Something is wrong somewhere. They are benefiting from his continued detention, and that’s why they are not making any serious moves to engage Mr President. Don’t forget that some people sponsored his abduction and extraordinary rendition.
“Why should he be abandoned for asking for the freedom of Biafra? He didn’t take up arms against the government, but he was tagged a terrorist. Yet the same government is busy releasing terrorists from detention.
“If they fail to act, Ndigbo and Biafrans at large must hold them responsible. And it may get to a point where the masses may no longer be held back.
“Nobody dies with any secret. Very soon, all those behind Kanu’s continued detention will be exposed. Those benefiting from the insecurity in the South-East are the ones enjoying his continued stay in detention. But nothing lasts forever. One day, they will be out of power,” he stated.
Following his detention in Kenya, Kanu was deported to Nigeria in June 2021, where he faced a number of accusations, including treasonable crime.
Since then, he has remained in custody even though multiple courts have granted him bail or dismissed the case against him.
When the matter came up for hearing during the week, Supreme Court Justice Justine Binta Nyako also denied him bail, supporting IPOB’s claims that there is a plot to keep the Biafran activist in prison forever.
