Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has vowed to push for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as part of efforts to restore peace in the South-east.
Speaking during the 13th memorial anniversary of her late husband, Biafra warlord Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in Owerri on Tuesday, Mrs. Ojukwu expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s understanding of the matter.
“President Tinubu understands the importance of Kanu’s release. It will expose the masqueraders behind the violence and help restore order. I will do whatever it takes to ensure His Excellency grants this request,” she stated.
Mrs. Ojukwu argued that freeing Mr. Kanu would help distinguish genuine freedom fighters from those exploiting his detention to fuel violence in the region.
Lamenting the insecurity in the South-east, she said the region has been plunged into chaos years after her husband’s death. “Communities are empty. Our illustrious sons and daughters have fled. Kidnappers now abduct their brothers for ransom. This is not what Dim Ojukwu fought for,” she remarked.
She also criticized violent sit-at-home orders, describing them as counterproductive to Igbo self-determination and economic growth. “Ndigbo are enterprising and their brother’s keepers. We must reclaim our land and continue to propagate the ideals for which Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu stood,” she emphasized.
Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Struggles
Mr. Kanu has been detained since 2021 after being controversially extradited from Kenya to Nigeria. Charged with terrorism at the Federal High Court in Abuja, he remains in custody despite a 2022 Court of Appeal ruling that deemed his extradition unlawful and ordered his release.
The Nigerian government appealed the ruling and obtained a stay of execution, with the Supreme Court reversing the acquittal in December 2023, allowing his trial to continue.
Calls for Resolution
Several Igbo leaders, including governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo representatives, have consistently advocated for Kanu’s release, asserting that it would foster peace in the South-east. Successive administrations have resisted these calls, citing concerns over security and ensuring his trial proceeds.
Mrs. Ojukwu’s statement underscores renewed efforts to address the crisis. She pledged to work with President Tinubu and Igbo leaders to restore peace. “Our people face existential threats, and we must act to restore peace,” she concluded.
