Three United States-based human rights and self-determination advocacy organisations have called for the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The groups also criticised President Bola Tinubu over his Independence Day remarks, in which he reportedly equated IPOB with the terrorist group Boko Haram.
In a joint statement issued by Dr. Sylvester Onye, president of Advocates for Victims of Injustice and Discrimination (AVID), on behalf of Rising Sun and Ambassadors for Self-Determination, the organisations described the president’s comments as “prejudicial and sub judice.”
According to them, the comparison of IPOB to Boko Haram was inappropriate, especially as IPOB’s legal appeal remains before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, while its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, continues to face trial at the Federal High Court.
The groups argued that the president should instead focus on addressing the broader security challenges facing Nigeria.
“Rather than fixating on IPOB – a non-violent self-determination movement, President Tinubu should direct his attention to violent armed groups who continue to displace communities and take lives across Nigeria,” the statement noted.
They further maintained that the continued detention of Kanu would not reduce his influence among his supporters.
“Every additional day of his detention only magnifies his stature,” they added.
The advocacy groups also called on the United States Congress and the U.S. Department of State to closely monitor Nigeria’s governance and ensure that democratic principles are upheld.
In addition, they urged the international community to condemn what they described as “prejudicial utterances” by President Tinubu against IPOB.
The organisations demanded the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, citing previous court rulings in his favour, and called for Nigerian leaders to be held accountable for what they described as “ethnic persecution under the guise of national security.”
