Igbo Leaders Demand Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu, Condemn Government’s Double Standards

A coalition of Igbo leaders has strongly criticized the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, accusing the Nigerian government of hypocrisy for embracing and rehabilitating Boko Haram militants while keeping Kanu behind bars.

In a statement released on Monday, the group expressed outrage over the federal government’s alleged financial appeasement of armed bandits, calling it a dangerous policy that undermines national security and governance. The leaders demanded Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, describing his four-year incarceration as unjust and politically motivated.

“If the government can reintegrate Boko Haram terrorists—who took up arms against innocent citizens—into society under the guise of repentance, then Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who merely called for self-determination, should be granted similar leniency,” the statement argued.

The signatories to the statement include Ben Nwankwo and Evans Nwankwo of Ambassadors for Self-Determination USA, Sylvester Onyia of AVID, and representatives from the Rising Sun Group, including Maxwell Dede and Father Odimegwa.

They further decried what they termed a “global injustice,” noting that Kanu’s abduction in Kenya has already drawn international condemnation, and called for accountability from both Nigerian and Kenyan officials involved.

“Our collective voice will not be silenced,” the group declared. “We stand firmly for justice, dignity, and the right to self-determination for all.”