 |
| Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) |
— ENUGU, Nigeria
Nigerian separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) strongly reaffirmed its imprisoned leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as its undisputed leader, rejecting an internal attempt to suspend him.
This decision comes after a dispute with the group's suspended 3rd administration of Directorate of State (DOS), headed by Chika Edozie, which recently announced suspension of the separatist group's leader's office and Kanu's role on Radio Biafra, citing security risks stemming from his communications from prison. Kanu's followers and IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, have rejected the suspension as illegal, claiming it violates the group's statutes.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains our leader; a group of suspended hooligans cannot suspend or remove him,” coordinator Uchenna Okafor told Gazette Africa.
Kanu has been in Nigerian custody since 2021 and was sentenced to life imprisonment on terrorism charges in November 2025. His legal team are appealing the sentence.
The recent crisis has prompted reactions from Igbo groups, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which supports Kanu and warns that internal fighting could destabilize the southeast of the country.
IPOB continues its campaign for an independent Biafra, while the Nigerian government maintains its crackdown on the separatist movement.