In a scathing rebuke, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have accused the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of turning a blind eye to the continued incarceration of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB, in a statement issued on Wednesday, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the international community’s silence regarding Kanu’s prolonged solitary confinement in Nigeria for nearly two years.
The group alleges that the Nigerian government is intentionally endangering Kanu’s life while claiming that the global community is complicit in this conspiracy of silence.
“We are deeply disheartened by the lack of international response as our leader’s health deteriorates in the oppressive confines of Nigeria’s government dungeon, where he has been unlawfully and unjustly detained for almost 24 months, in defiance of both UN and Nigerian court orders,” the statement stated.
IPOB maintains its commitment to ensuring Kanu’s survival while in detention.
“In the face of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s declining health and the Nigerian government’s persistent flouting of lawful directives, coupled with the deafening silence of the international community, IPOB pledges to utilize all available means to prevent his demise behind bars,” asserted the statement.
The group urgently implores the international community to step in and demand Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release.
“We appeal to the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States to intervene promptly, demanding the urgent and unconditional release of our leader,” urged the statement.
It further calls upon all human rights organizations to take cognizance of the Nigerian government’s brazen disregard for human rights and to take decisive action to ensure Kanu’s safety and well-being are not compromised in detention.
