Written By: Jacobs Dunga, Lagos
An independent body based in the southeast of Nigeria has called on the president of the nation to sanction the immediate release of Pro Biafra activist Nnamdi Kanu.
The Concerned Igbo Citizens Council (CICC) in a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has asked for amnesty to be extended to Nnamdi Kanu in the same vein as Sunday Igboho and Omoyele Sowore, both of whom are said to be on the free for allegedly being involved in same movement as the former.
56-year-old Kanu has been in detention since being extradited from Kenya in 2021, where he went to seek support for his movement.
He is facing a case on a count of terrorism charges levied against him by the federal government to his leadership of a supposed rebel group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group cited the detention of Kanu as “criminal injustice” and asked the presidency to order the release of the IPOB leader.
“It has become most expedient and imperative to call on President Tinubu to extend the amnesty he granted to two of his kinsmen, Sunday Igboho and Omoyele Sowore, to other Yoruba youths held for supporting the agitations of the duo.”
Reads the statement signed by interim National Coordinator and interim National Secretary, Comrade Ukachukwu Obioha and Mazi James Okorie.
“It would amount to criminal injustice to continue to detain the supporters and fans of Igboho and Sowore since the principal actors have been absolved of any wrongdoing per se.” It continued.
It was further stated that every other detained Eastern or Igbo youth should be granted release for being unjustly kept in custody for supporting the Biafra movement.
“We demand also for the unconditional release, without any further delay, of Mazi Kanu and all Igbo and Eastern Nigerian youths currently detained for belonging to or supporting IPOB.” The communique was made available to journalists in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
Several court cases have been held since the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu who continues to file different appeals.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
