The Indigenous People of Biafra on Thursday thanked Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Sokoto State Governor Almad Aliyu Sokoto, Hon. Aguocha, and other concerned Igbo for visiting its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre. The group made its position known in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
IPOB said the visit came as a surprise to many of its members and described it as a gesture that brought comfort to those who have been calling for Kanu’s freedom. The group noted that several Igbo residents in Sokoto also joined the visit to show support for their detained leader.
IPOB restated its view that Kanu’s arrest, transfer from Kenya, long detention, trial, conviction and movement to Sokoto prison were unjust. It said the events surrounding his case continue to cause pain among its members and many people in the South-East. The group described Kanu as a prisoner of conscience whose only action, according to them, was speaking for his people and seeking self-determination.
The group accused security agencies of carrying out actions in the South-East aimed at creating an impression of unrest linked to IPOB and its leader. It insisted that these actions need an independent inquiry and maintained that the legal process used against Kanu was unfair.
IPOB said it will continue to pursue its self-determination agenda without violence. It added that the safety of its leader is now a major concern and warned that the government must ensure nothing happens to him in custody. The group said many Igbo people and supporters across Nigeria and abroad still stand firmly behind Kanu.
The group also noted that its next steps depend on the government’s actions and said it is waiting for a future UN-supervised referendum where people in the region can decide their future.
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