 |
| Members of IPOB during a protest |
ENUGU— The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has expressed displeasure at the silence of the international community over the Nigerian government's refusal to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite a court order ordering his release.
Kanu, who was abducted in Kenya in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria, remains in government detention where he faces serious health challenges.
IPOB, which condemned the silence of the international community over the imprisonment of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, said it is saddened, saying the Nigerian government wants him dead because of his demands for a referendum on an independent state known as Biafra.
 |
| IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu |
In a statement on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, Emma Powerful, the media and publicity secretary of the separatist group, alleged that the DSS gave Mr. Kanu a slow-acting poison, causing his health to deteriorate to eventually kill him.
According to the IPOB spokesperson, the silence of the international community, including the United Nations, looks like a conspiracy with the Nigerian government to kill Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Disclosing that it will do everything to ensure that its leader does not die in custody, IPOB said it should not be blamed for anything that will become a consequence of Nigeria's continued disobedience to local and international laws in the case of Mr. Kanu.
 |
| Protester in Southeast Nigeria call for release of Nnamdi Kanu |
In October 2023, the Appeal and High Courts of Nigeria overturned the charges, acquitted and ordered release of the IPOB leader accused of terrorism and treason for calling for an independent state of Biafra.
The Nigerian government has defied court orders and said Mr Kanu has more to answer for.