The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers has made an appeal to President Bola Tinubu for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his extradition from Kenya in 2021 on charges of treason.

At a forum organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Samuel Asadu, chairman of the council, emphasized that Kanu’s release would help alleviate national tensions. “He [Kanu] is our son. He has been there for a long time despite the ups and downs with the judiciary,” Asadu stated.

Asadu reiterated support for the governors’ forum and other stakeholders advocating for Kanu’s release to reduce regional unrest and insecurity. He expressed confidence that the government would ensure the release does not escalate the situation.

“If the president looks into that and gives him a pardon, we will be excited. It is affecting our area, because of his absence. Some of the people are his die-hard fans,” Asadu noted. “All the traditional rulers are praying for Nnamdi Kanu’s release. We feel his pains and the pain of his family. It will be a gift if the president does that. We will come back to thank him in a big way.”