The Indigenous People of Biafra has lauded the governors of Abia and Sokoto states, Dr Alex Otti and Ahmad Aliyu, for visiting its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The group described the visit as an unexpected but significant gesture at a time when concerns over Kanu’s treatment remain widespread.
In a statement issued on Thursday, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful said the continued detention, trial, life sentence, and relocation of Kanu had deepened feelings of marginalisation among many in the South-East.
He argued that Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya and subsequent legal ordeals represented a long-standing pattern of injustice that must be subjected to an independent review.
According to Powerful, IPOB believes federal authorities have used security operations in the South-East to create a false narrative of violence linked to the movement and its leader.
He insisted that Kanu’s agitation for self-determination did not amount to a criminal offence under any recognised local or international statute.
Despite this, the spokesman said the group remained committed to non-violent advocacy. He added that the relocation of Kanu to Sokoto had not weakened public support for him, stressing that the movement expected the Federal Government to ensure the safety of its leader as they continue to press for a UN-supervised referendum.
IPOB also appreciated Igbos and other supporters who visited Kanu in custody, saying their solidarity had strengthened the call for justice.
The group maintained that Kanu, whom it described as a “prisoner of conscience”, still enjoys overwhelming support among Ndigbo and many Nigerians who believe his ordeal symbolises a larger struggle against oppression.
