The family of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused South-East governors of failing to secure his release.
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Nnamdi’s brother, expressed disappointment over the governors’ lack of commitment during a memorial for their late parents in Umuahia.
Prince Emmanuel alleged that President Bola Tinubu had set conditions for Kanu’s release, but the governors had yet to act on them. He questioned the governors’ motives, asking, “Are they benefitting from the unrest in the South East?” Kanu’s family demanded his unconditional release, insisting that the issues he raised required meaningful dialogue, not imprisonment.
The family also criticized Justice Binta Nyako’s decision to indefinitely adjourn Kanu’s trial, arguing that she had previously recused herself from the case and no longer had jurisdiction. They called on the international community to intervene, stating that Kanu had committed no crime to warrant continued incarceration.
Elders from the former Eastern region, including High Chief Agonsi Ebere, lent their voices to the call for Kanu’s release. Ebere described Kanu’s parents as martyrs for the Biafra cause and urged the Federal Government to listen to the growing calls for Kanu’s release.
The event saw a large turnout of supporters from across the South East and South-South states, reflecting widespread support for Kanu’s cause. Prince Emmanuel reiterated the family’s demand for his brother’s unconditional release, saying, “The masses are behind him because he is championing a just cause.”