Entrepreneur Chigozie Nnabugwu has stirred controversy in Nigeria after calling on the Federal Government to execute detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that such a move would help restore peace in the South-East.

Nnabugwu made the remarks during an appearance on News Central TV’s Breakfast Xtra programme, where he discussed insecurity in the region and possible solutions to the prolonged crisis.

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The businessman claimed that violence in parts of the South-East had reduced following the arrests and prosecution of key separatist figures, including Kanu and another pro-Biafra activist, Simon Ekpa.

“The time they arrested Nnamdi Kanu, it was like up and down. The time they arrested Simon Ekpa, it reduced by about 50 per cent. The time Nnamdi Kanu was convicted, it reduced to about 10 per cent. That’s what we are battling now,” Nnabugwu said.

He went further to argue that Kanu’s death would bring further calm to the region.

“If Nnamdi Kanu is dead today, if the government of Nigeria will kill Nnamdi Kanu, trust me, normalcy will start coming. That’s all every Igbo man prays for,” he said.

The comments have generated debate among Nigerians, with some questioning the businessman’s position and others focusing on the wider challenges surrounding insecurity, separatist agitation and governance in the South-East.

Nnabugwu also maintained that military operations alone would not resolve the crisis, stressing the need for community leaders, religious bodies and intellectuals to engage citizens and address what he described as misinformation and inflammatory messaging.

“The military are not the Holy Spirit that is everywhere. Bombs are still killing people in my community. The military have done a lot, but these people keep planting them again,” he said.

He added that broader public awareness and community involvement were necessary to achieve lasting peace.

“The only way to solve this problem is to let every Igbo man know the truth and stand by the truth,” Nnabugwu stated.

Kanu, the leader of the proscribed IPOB, has remained a central figure in Nigeria’s South-East security debate since his arrest and subsequent extradition to Nigeria in 2021.

The IPOB leader was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) after being brought back from Kenya and later faced terrorism-related charges linked to his separatist activities.

His supporters have consistently called for his release, while government authorities have maintained that legal proceedings must run their course.

The South-East has continued to experience security challenges involving attacks, abductions and clashes between security agencies and armed groups, although authorities have reported various operations aimed at restoring stability.

Earlier in July, reports emerged that Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a medical expert who reportedly conducted an independent assessment of Kanu’s health condition, was arrested in Enugu State.

Legal practitioner Chief Barrister Maxwell Opara said Aghaji’s assessment had differed from a medical report presented by the DSS, though authorities had not publicly provided further details on the matter.

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As discussions continue over the future of the region’s security, Nnabugwu’s remarks have added another layer to the debate surrounding Kanu’s legal battle, separatist movements and the search for lasting peace in the South-East.