 has once again called for the immediate and unconditional release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021.){kind=link}
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has once again called for the immediate and unconditional release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021.
The group claimed that many of Kanu’s past warnings regarding Nigeria’s political and security challenges have now materialized.
In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group pointed out that several of Kanu’s predictions, particularly those concerning escalating insecurity and shifts in the political landscape, have come true.
They emphasized that this highlights the need for a national conversation about the restructuring of Nigeria.
Kanu, who has been detained for almost four years following his arrest and extradition in 2021, faces charges related to his advocacy for the separation of Biafra from Nigeria.
IPOB argued that his earlier warnings about increasing violence and the call for self-determination have been validated by the current situation.
The group referred to Kanu’s broadcasts from as far back as 2014, in which he is said to have predicted the rise in armed groups and the intensifying security problems across Nigeria.
“The current events unfolding in Nigeria mirror the very concerns that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu raised in the past,” IPOB’s statement read, adding that his fears about the nation’s instability, ethnic marginalization, and growing insecurity have now become undeniable realities.
IPOB reaffirmed its stance that Nigeria’s national structure should be revisited, arguing that the forced merging of various ethnic groups into one nation has contributed to ongoing strife and underdevelopment.
The group called for peaceful dialogue and a referendum that would allow local ethnic groups to determine their political and cultural futures, similar to other democratic practices around the world.
“We believe that the solution lies in giving the people the freedom to choose their own destiny through peaceful negotiations and mutual respect,” IPOB added.
The group also urged the federal government to release Kanu without further delay, labeling his continued incarceration as unjust, and called for nationwide support for discussions aimed at restructuring Nigeria based on fairness and equality.
IPOB concluded by urging unity among all Nigerians to address the nation’s security challenges together, while emphasizing that the group remains committed to non-violence and safeguarding its people.