Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has renewed its demand for the unconditional release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, asserting that many of his past warnings on Nigeria’s security and political trajectory have now come to pass.
In a statement issued recently by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group maintained that Kanu’s long-standing messages about the worsening state of insecurity and the political realignments within the country had proven to be accurate.
According to IPOB, these developments validate his early calls for national dialogue on Nigeria’s structural future.
Kanu, who was arrested in Kenya and extradited in 2021, has remained in detention for nearly four years over allegations related to his separatist activities.
IPOB stated that the unfolding rise in violence across regions and growing calls for self-determination are signs that his foresight was not only timely, but justified.
“The recent events in Nigeria reflect what Kanu had long warned about. His concerns about insecurity, national disunity, and the marginalisation of various ethnic groups have continued to unfold,” the statement read.
The group also pointed to his broadcasts dating as far back as 2014, in which he allegedly foresaw the surge in armed group activities and political unrest.
Reaffirming its long-held stance, IPOB stated that the present structure of the Nigerian federation requires urgent renegotiation. It argued that the amalgamation of diverse ethnic groups into one nation without consensus has led to “persistent conflicts and underdevelopment.”
“We believe that lasting solution lies in giving ethnic nationalities the opportunity to decide their own paths. This must be achieved through peaceful means and mutual respect,” the statement added.
Calling for renewed efforts towards national dialogue, IPOB urged the federal government to release Kanu without conditions, describing his continued detention as a miscarriage of justice.
The group appealed to political, religious and traditional leaders to back efforts aimed at restructuring the country in line with fairness and inclusiveness.
