The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has demanded unconditional release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over what it described as his “deteriorating health.
The group wondered why its leader is still being held at the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), despite clamour for his unconditional release by various groups, individuals and, recently, the National Assembly.
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While describing his continual detention, in a statement he released to newsmen, as provoking to Ndigbo and its group, despite the order for his release by international courts and others, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, accused the Federal Government of deliberately frustrating Kanu’s life.
He said: “The Nigerian government is intentionally provoking IPOB by refusing to release our leader, even when the Nigerian and international courts have ordered his unconditional release. IPOB wishes to reiterate that the life of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is in danger in the solitary confinement of the DSS in Abuja.
“We have persistently called on the Nigerian government to release our leader, as both international and local law institutions have ordered his release. Many prominent Nigerians, religious, traditional, and political leaders, including 50 members of the National Assembly, have equally called for his release. But the Tinubu government has refused to listen to the voice of reason by refusing to release Mazi Kanu, just like his notorious predecessor, Buhari. Tinubu’s government has discontinued similar cases of terrorism and treason charges against two Yoruba activists and a Fulani militia leader.
“In the case of an Igbo man, unarmed freedom activist, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, this same Tinubu government has vehemently refused to release him. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has subsisting local and international judgments that ordered for release, unlike the other cases discontinued by the federal government without any court judgment.
“We are enumerating all these injustices to demonstrate that the Federal Government of Nigeria is intentionally provoking the anger of IPOB and Ndigbo. IPOB has maintained a non-violence approach in the Biafra struggle, irrespective of the high-handedness of the Nigerian government against Biafra activists,” Powerful said.
He insisted that Kanu is seriously sick and must be released unconditionally from DSS solitary confinement, for him to treat himself “before something unpredictable and unimaginable happens to him”.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s health is going down every day under DSS solitary confinement because of the nature of his health issues. IPOB is calling on President Bola Tinubu and his Attorney General, Fatai Fagbemi, again, to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, so that he can go and treat himself before it’s too late. He has been in solitary confinement for over three years. Although no court in Nigeria has found him guilty, yet, he is being persecuted by the tribal bigot government of Nigeria.
“President Bola Tinubu, please, note that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is sick and something terrible can happen to him if he is not released. Nothing must happen to him in the DSS solitary confinement in Abuja,” Powerful warned.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
