Nnamdi Kanu’s Continuous Detention, Provocative – Southern/Middle Belt Forum; Demands Freedom For Him, Igboho

By Adesina Soyooye

A meeting of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has demanded the immediate release of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the custody of the Federal Government.

The meeting, also, demanded for the discontinuation of the prosecution of Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba Nation agitator, who is on temporary release in the Republic of Benin.

The Forum made the demands in a Communique it issued after a meeting members held in Abuja on Thursday, March 10, 2022, under the Chairmanship of Chief Edwin K. Clark.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Federal Government since 2021 when he was re-arrested in Nairobi, Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

He is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at a Federal High Court over sundry allegations including terrorism and treasonable felony.

He was on bail granted him by the trial Judge, the Honourable Justice Binta Nyako, but was forced to flee Nigeria when soldiers, inexplicably, invaded his father’s Palace in his community, Afara, Umuahia, in 2017.

In the case of Igboho, he fled the country when the Federal Government declared him wanted. He was on his way to Germany, through the Republic of Benin, in company of his wife, Ropo, a German citizen, when they were arrested at an airport in Cotonou by that country’s security agents.

While his wife was released on their first appearance in Court, Igboho was clamped into prison, and being prosecuted for sundry allegations. The Nigerian Government wants him extradited to Nigeria to face charges.

Last week, after 231 days in detention, he was released on bail to take care of his failing health. He was, however, restricted to Cotonou.

At the well attended meeting, the Forum demanded: “In national interest, the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu and a stop to any further persecution of Sunday Igboho, who is currently on a conditional release in Benin Republic.”

It also warned that the continued detention of Kanu is, at once, provocative and perfidious while known terrorists are being given VIP treatments.

Said the Communique: ” The continued detention and trial of Nnamdi Kanu on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony while known Boko Haram terrorists are being given VIP treatments and hosted in Government Houses is not only provocative and perfidious but a bizarre double standard on the part of the Nigerian State.”

The Leaders, also, condemned a situation where widows and orphans of the atrocious activities of Boko Haram terrorists are suffering in IDP Camps, while those responsible for their situation are being pampered by the Federal Government.

Said the Communique:  “More disconcerting is the fact that the women and children rendered widows, orphans and displaced by the terrorists, now being gratified by the Federal Government and its security agencies, are wallowing in wretched IDP camps.”