An SSS witness in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial claims IPOB activities killed up to 200 security agents, with chilling details of human rituals and Gulak’s murder

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu took a chilling turn on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as a witness from the State Security Service (SSS) alleged that up to 200 security agents have been killed in the South-East due to the actions of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Also read: ESN, Amotekun are not the same, they can not be compared- SSS witness

The witness, identified only as DDD for security reasons, gave his testimony before Justice James Omotosho.

He said IPOB’s violent campaign, led by Mr Kanu, has caused the deaths of officers across multiple agencies, including two from the SSS.

DDD appeared as the fourth prosecution witness and was led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

He testified that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had no record of licensing Mr Kanu to import or operate the German-made transmitter used for Radio Biafra, which was reportedly smuggled into the country and recovered from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State.

An NBC engineer later inspected the equipment and confirmed its status as an unlicensed FM transmitter.

DDD said investigations showed the transmitter was owned by Mr Kanu and stored on the property of Benjamin Madubugu.

According to him, Kanu returned to Nigeria, inspected the device, and recorded a video to show IPOB members who had allegedly contributed funds for its purchase.

The witness also presented excerpts from Vanguard newspaper articles, quoting an ESN commander, Uzuoma Benjamin (aka “Onye Army”), who reportedly confessed to receiving direct orders from Kanu to attack security operatives.

DDD claimed Kanu instructed that a fallen IPOB commander, Ikonso, should be buried with 2,000 human heads, although only 30 were allegedly obtained.

“We saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads, some eating human flesh which they said was for spiritual fortification,” DDD said.

He added that efforts to interrogate Onye Army were thwarted after the police claimed he had escaped from custody.

We saw some ESN members with human heads, some eating human flesh for spiritual fortification.” — SSS witness.

Giving more context, DDD said the invasion of the Owerri correctional facility and other acts of terror were linked to orders issued in Kanu’s broadcasts.

He also recounted the 2021 murder of political adviser Ahmed Gulak in Imo State, attributing it to IPOB’s stay-at-home directive.

Gulak was reportedly killed at an illegal checkpoint after failing to prove he could speak Igbo, despite identifying as Igbo.

The witness described how his team was among the first responders to the scene and evacuated Gulak’s body in his official vehicle.

He stated the deceased was killed after IPOB members found a Muslim prayer mark on his forehead and accused him of being “one of them”.

When cross-examined by defence counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), DDD admitted there was no record of when the transmitter entered Nigeria.

He also said he was unaware of claims that it had been cleared by a company named Benka or that it was registered for use in London.

He confirmed that two guns recovered during the investigation were not found in the same container as the transmitter but under a mattress belonging to Madubugu, who was later charged with illegal possession of firearms.

The container, he said, was imported by one Igwe Anyiba, who was found to be residing abroad. DDD concluded his testimony without acknowledging the Imo State Government’s earlier claim that Gulak’s killing was politically motivated.