The outlawed Igbo separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday hinted that it may resort to violence if its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu is not released from custody.
The group gave the warning when it trumpeted a popular saying by John F. Kennedy that “Those who make peaceful change impossible will make violent change inevitable”.
It threatened the Nigerian government of serious consequences if anything should happen to its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who had been in detention since his arrest in Kenya in 2021.
The group raised an alarm following a revelation on Wednesday by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, who said the IPOB leader is seriously ill and should be released for adequate medical treatment.
After a mandatory visit to Kanu in the facility of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, Ejimakor put up a post on his X handle which said:
“Today, DSS finally allowed MAZI NNAMDI KANU’s physician to see him. The Doctor’s preliminary report presented complex medical conditions that require that #MNK be taken to a hospital for more detailed diagnosis. This will follow a report that will be sent to DG-DSS by the Doctor.”
Today, DSS finally allowed MAZI NNAMDI KANU's physician to see him. The Doctor’s preliminary report presented complex medical conditions that require that #MNK be taken to a hospital for more detailed diagnosis. This will follow a report that will be sent to DG-DSS by the Doctor.
— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) July 17, 2024
However, in a statement by IPOB media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group called on the government to release Kanu unconditionally to avert what it calls a gathering storm.
“The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by the resolute leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, once again call for the unconditional release of our leader from DSS solidarity confinement over his deteriorating health condition,” IPOB said.
“The Nigerian government is intentionally provoking IPOB by refusing to release our leader even when the Nigerian and International Courts have ordered for his unconditional release.
“IPOB wishes to reiterate that the life of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is in danger in the solitary confinement of the DSS in Abuja.
“We have persistently called on the Nigerian government to release our leader as both international and local law institutions have ordered for his release.
“Many prominent Nigerians, religious, traditional, and political leaders, including 50 members of the National Assembly, have equally called for his release.
“But the Tinubu’s government has refused to listen to the voice of reason by refusing to release Mazi Kanu, just like his notorious predecessor’s government of Buhari.
“Tinubu’s government has discontinued similar cases of terrorism and treason charges against two Yoruba activists and a Fulani militia leader.
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“In the case of an Igbo man, unarmed freedom activist Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, this same Tinubu’s government, have vehemently refused to release him.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had subsisting local and international judgments that ordered for his release, unlike the other cases discontinued by the federal government without any court judgment.
“We are enumerating all these injustices to demonstrate that the Federal Government of Nigeria is intentionally provoking the anger of IPOB and Ndigbo.
“IPOB has maintained a non-violence approach in the Biafra struggle irrespective of the high-handedness of the Nigerian government against Biafra activists.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is seriously sick and must be released unconditionally from DSS solidarity confinement for him to treat himself before something unpredictable and unimaginable happens to him.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s health is going down every day under DSS solitary confinement because of the nature of his health issues.
“IPOB is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Attorney General, Fatai Fagbemi again to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu so that he can go and treat himself before it’s too late.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members have been persecuted for over a decade by the Nigerian State because of Biafra’s self-determination.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and has been detained in solitary confinement for over 3 years.
“Although no court in Nigeria has found him guilty yet he is being persecuted by the tribal bigot government of Nigeria.
“President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, please note that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is sick and something terrible can happen to him if he is not released.
“Nothing must happen to him in the DSS solitary confinement in Abuja. As John F. Kennedy said, “Those who make peaceful change impossible will make violent change inevitable.”
IPOB Press Release: July 17, 2024
AVERT THE GATHERING STORM AND RELEASE MAZI NNAMDI KANU AS HIS HEALTH DETERIORATES- IPOB
The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by the resolute leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu once again call for the… pic.twitter.com/Z59bpT2Tvz
— IPOB Liverpool Central (@ipob_central) July 17, 2024
The post IPOB hints it may resort to violence over continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
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