Emma Powerful, the spokesperson of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has said in a statement that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, needs urgent heart surgery. The group said Kanu needs to be rushed to a specialist hospital where he would get adequate medical attention for his deteriorating health. The spokesman raised the alarm over Kanu’s health while also noting that he was rushed to an ill-equipped clinic of the Department of State Services (DSS) for a medical emergency in Abuja on February 27, 2023.
In the statement, Powerful accused the Nigerian Government of colluding with its British counterpart to kill Kanu. It said, “We are aware that the Nigeria Government and her DSS, including the British High Commissioner in Abuja, planned to kill Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu in DSS solitary confinement but they should also be ready for the consequences.” The group is asking that Kanu be released unconditionally to attend to his deteriorating health urgently. IPOB said that the Federal Government needs to do what is necessary to avoid “negative consequences that may follow.”
Group seeks the restoration of Biafra, fights low-level guerilla warfare.
IPOB is a Nigerian nationalist separatist group that aims to restore the Republic of Biafra. Biafra was a country which seceded from Nigeria just before the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). After its defeat by the federal troops of Nigeria, it rejoined Nigeria. IPOB was founded in 2012 by Nnamdi Kanu and Uche Mefor. Kanu is a British-Nigerian political activist who was known for his advocacy of the contemporary Biafran movement. Since 2021, this group as well as other Biafran separatist groups, such as Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has been fighting a low-level guerilla war against the Federal Government in the southeastern part of Nigeria.
The Federal Government proscribed the group in 2017. Under the Nigerian Terrorism Act, it was deemed a terrorist organization. The government of the United Kingdom started denying asylum to IPOB members who engaged in human right abuses, though the UK government clarified that it had not designated IPOB as a terrorist organization. IPOB advocates for a sovereign state of Biafra due to, according to them, the marginalization by the Nigerian government. The group has criticized the Nigerian federal government for poor investment, political alienation, inequitable resource distribution, ethnic marginalization, and heavy military presence, extrajudicial killings in the South-Eastern, South-Central and parts of North-Central regions of Nigeria.
British Consul meets Kanu in DSS custody.
Meanwhile a few weeks ago, amid his health challenges, a British Consul, Ms. Heather Wilkie met with Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB in the custody of the DSS. Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, said the IPOB leader discussed issues bothering on his health and extrajudicial detention with the British Consul. Ejimakor also said other issues which were discussed by Kanu and Wilkie can’t be made public. This was confirmed in a tweet that Ejiamajor posted as a form of update.
Similarly, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political organization has vowed to provide terrorism evidence to prosecute Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa. Ohanaeze said providing evidence against Ekpa would serve as a deterrent to those planning violent agitation in the Southeast. The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, told the press that Ekpa’s arrest would not affect Nnamdi Kanu’s case. Finnish authority had arrested Ekpa from his apartment in Lahti. He was later released after the police allegedly arrested him for a suspected crime.
Simon Ekpa had threatened no election in the east.
A factional leader of IPOB, Mr. Simon Ekpa, has repeatedly declared sit-at-home orders across the Southeast, insisting that there would be no election in the region in 2023. He had recently declared a sit-at-home from 23 to 28 February 2023 apparently to stop the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the region, which was held on February 25, 2023. For this cause, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on February 14, 2023, had summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, over threats by Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, to stop the 2023 general election in Nigeria’s Southeast.
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Nnamdi Kanu needs urgent heart surgery. – The separatist group accused FG of conspiring with the UK to kill Kanu. – Express your point of view.
Because of the rapid decline in his health, Kanu has to be taken as quickly as possible to a specialized facility where he can receive the care he requires.
The Nigeria government under this President Buhari has not been honouring any court order which is very bad to the image of the country across globe and Nnamdi Kanu case is among,if not all this story will not come up.
The organization is pleading for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release so that medical professionals can care to his worsening health.
It is commendable that the government of the United Kingdom has begun refusing shelter to members of IPOB who have been involved in violations of human rights.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a sociopolitical organization, has promised to give evidence of terrorism so that Biafra activist Simon Ekpa can be prosecuted for his actions.
What a pity I really feel his pain. I just hope he get the required aid to carry out the surgery and other health care he needed as soon as possible.
The United Kingdom government made it clear that IPOB was not listed as a terrorist group. IPOB promotes the creation of an independent Biafran state, claiming that the Nigerian government has treated them unfairly.
Those who are plotting acts of violent agitation in the Southeast would be prevented from carrying them out if proof was presented against Ekpa.
I thought the court has given judgement on this Kanu’s case. He has been said to be released. I actually don’t know why they still keep holding unto him.
The group requesting to release kanu because of his health is getting worse so he can receive treatment
If evidence were revealed against Ekpa, those planning acts of violent unrest in the Southeast would’ve been deterred from carrying them out.
The Nnamdi Kanu case is among, if not all of this narrative will not come up, because the Nigerian government under this President Buhari has not been adhering to any court ruling, which is highly negative for the country’s reputation across the world.
The federal government should take extra measures before making any section in this case.
Right to Life!! Why is the gov’t violating it’s own rule? Nnamdi health’s needs attention. I believe the consequences and repercussions of his death are well known to the gov’t. He can be in custody and as well receive treatments. Security personnel should be appoint to monitor the whole movement.
Nnamdi Kanu needs urgent heart surgery. He has be acquainted not guilty yet federal government refuse release Nnamdi Kanu. They are now breaking the law that pronounce him free.
Government should do the needful
I thought he has been released. It’s only fair for him to be released so he can attend to his heart condition. Also, as clarified by the Uk government, IPOB is not a terrorist group
Nnamdi Kanu the IPOB leader need to be released after the Supreme court ruling. Now that he is health is fast deteriorating the Federal Government should order his release from the detention of the DSS so that he can go for proper treatment. There is no point keeping him in detention except the President personally have something against him.
It was made clear by the British government that IPOB was not included on its list of terrorist organizations. In order to avenge their treatment by the Nigerian government, IPOB advocates for the establishment of an independent Biafran state.
The arrest and the continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu the IPOB leader by the DSS is not right. Election has began and the threat issued by the IPOB group has be contain they should let go their leader especially now that he very sick.