The pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called for the immediate release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, citing his rapidly deteriorating health.
In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Wednesday, July 17, IPOB warned that Kanu's life is in grave danger while being held in solitary confinement by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
"Nigeria will not be the same if anything happens to him. In fact, Nigeria will cease to be if anything untoward happens to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu," the group cautioned.
The statement elaborated:
"The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by its resolute leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, once again call for the unconditional release of our leader from DSS solitary confinement over his deteriorating health condition. The Nigerian government is intentionally provoking IPOB by refusing to release our leader even when the Nigerian and international courts have ordered 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 legal institutions have ordered his release. Many prominent Nigerians, religious, traditional, and political leaders, including 50 members of the National Assembly, have also called for his release. But Tinubu’s government has refused to listen to the voice of reason by refusing to release Mazi Kanu, just like his predecessor, Buhari. Tinubu’s government has discontinued similar cases of terrorism and treason charges against two Yoruba activists and a Fulani militia leader. In the case of an Igbo man, unarmed freedom activist, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, this same Tinubu’s government has vehemently refused to release him. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has subsisting local and international judgments that ordered his release, unlike the cases of the Yoruba activist and Fulani terrorist, which were discontinued by Tinubu’s 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-violent approach in the Biafra struggle despite the high-handedness of the Nigerian government against Biafra activists. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is seriously ill and must be released unconditionally from DSS solitary confinement for him to treat himself before something unpredictable and unimaginable happens to him. Nigeria will not be the same if anything happens to him. In fact, Nigeria will cease to be if anything untoward happens to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu."
The call for Kanu's release is underscored by fears of severe consequences for Nigeria should his health worsen while in custody.
No comments:
Post a Comment