The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly responded to recent comments by Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, who suggested that releasing the group’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, may not resolve the security challenges in the Southeast.
In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group criticized Governor Soludo’s remarks, calling them unhelpful and disconnected from reality.
The governor had recently stated in an interview on Arise TV that some criminals involved in insecurity in the Southeast claim to be acting on behalf of Kanu.
IPOB argued that releasing Kanu would expose these individuals and eliminate any justification for their criminal activities.
The statement read, “If criminals are hiding behind the name of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB to commit crimes, then it is simple logic that his release would end such activities, as no one would be able to continue their criminal acts in his name.”
IPOB expressed disappointment in Soludo, especially since he had previously supported Kanu’s release.
The group also reminded the governor of Kanu’s role in combating insecurity in the region, particularly his efforts in curbing the activities of armed herdsmen.
IPOB credited Kanu and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) for putting an end to what they called the “massacre and humiliation” of Igbo people during the herdsmen’s violent attacks.
In a bold assertion, IPOB vowed that if Kanu were released and insecurity did not subside within two weeks, the group would cease to exist.
The statement further urged Southeast governors to be transparent about any reluctance to advocate for Kanu’s freedom, calling on them to fulfill their public commitments to support his release.
Kanu, who was re-arrested by Nigerian authorities in 2021, remains in detention. IPOB has maintained that his release is crucial for lasting peace and stability in the Southeast region.
