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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has confirmed the arrest of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. but said the development is “not the end of the road”
In a statement issued on Wednesday by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group asked its members to mobilise and attend the court hearing on July 26 when Kanu’s trial will continue.
It noted that Kanu’s arrest is not the end of the road.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Juatice, Abubakar Malami, had on Tuesday said that Kanu was “intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services.”
The separatist leader was subsequently arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Binta Nyarko granted an order for him to be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) till July 26.
But in the statement titled, ‘Nothing should happen to our leader,’ Powerful said Kanu was abducted by the Federal Government “in collaboration with all those that view IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as stumbling block against their bid to hold Biafra in perpetual slavery.”
“IPOB will not relent in the pursuit of Biafra freedom. We have crossed the Rubicon in our struggle for the restoration of Biafran Sovereignty. There is no going back no matter the level of intimidation by our oppressors,” he said.
According to the statement, Kanu deserves justice and a fair hearing as he faces trial on an 11-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society and illegal possession of firearms.
“We also want to state unequivocally, that no harm should befall our leader. Should anything untoward happen to him, Nigeria Government will be held accountable for it,” he added.
For almost four years after he fled Nigeria in 2017, Kanu piloted the affairs of IPOB from outside the country, mostly from the UK where he runs Radio Biafra and engages in fierce monologues preaching his separatist cause.
While in the UK, Kanu launched the Eastern Security Network (ESN) as a military arm of IPOB, which he claimed will protect the South East from criminal activities.