The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of deliberately spreading false narratives and manipulating the media to damage Kanu’s image ahead of his upcoming court appearance.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday in Abuja, the family warned that these actions not only threaten justice but are also aimed at influencing the outcome of the ongoing terrorism trial against Kanu.
The statement, signed by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the Biafra agitator, alleged that each time Kanu’s court date draws near, the Nigerian media becomes flooded with what the family described as “fabricated stories” linking IPOB to criminal activities and insecurity in the South-East region.
“We, on behalf of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his family, address the relentless and orchestrated campaign of misinformation being peddled by the Nigerian government through sponsored adverse media coverage,” the statement began.
The family believes this strategy is designed to negatively sway public opinion and prejudice the judiciary as Kanu prepares for another hearing at the Abuja Federal High Court scheduled for April 29, 2025.
The family specifically pointed to a recent series of media headlines, such as:
– “Police nab three suspected IPOB members, recover N10.3m in Imo”
– “Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout in Imo”
– “Three arrested as police bust IPOB hideout in Imo”
According to them, these reports follow a predictable pattern that always seems to intensify shortly before a court date.
“This systematic defamation is not only an attack on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB but also a grave assault on justice and fairness,” Prince Emmanuel said.
In response to what they see as an unfair and politically motivated campaign, the Kanu family is calling for the immediate establishment of an independent investigative panel, comprising experts from the United States and the European Union.
They want this panel to conduct a transparent and neutral investigation into the root causes of insecurity in the South-East, as well as identify those truly responsible.
“Only an independent investigation will reveal the truth about the ongoing security crisis in Igboland,” the statement read. “This will also help expose the real masterminds of violence and help restore justice to our land.”
The family also criticised what they described as “hypocrisy” in the way IPOB is treated by the Nigerian government and the media, compared to how Fulani herdsmen are handled.
They argued that while IPOB is constantly vilified and linked to unrest, no serious action is taken against herdsmen, despite their involvement in violent attacks across several states.
“The same media houses that carry aggressive reports against IPOB are silent on the killings and destruction carried out by herdsmen. Why is there so much focus on IPOB, while the real perpetrators of insecurity go unchallenged?” the statement asked.
This line of argument reflects a wider sentiment among many in the South-East, who believe that the security operations in the region are politically targeted.
Nnamdi Kanu, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, has been in detention since his re-arrest in 2021. He was first arrested in 2015 on charges of treason but was granted bail in 2017. He later fled Nigeria, citing safety concerns after a military invasion of his home in Abia State.
Kanu was reportedly re-arrested in Kenya under controversial circumstances and was brought back to Nigeria to face terrorism-related charges, among others.
The IPOB movement, which he leads, has long campaigned for the independence of Biafra—a territory in the South-East that attempted to secede from Nigeria in 1967, leading to a brutal civil war that lasted until 1970.
While the Nigerian government has labeled IPOB a terrorist organization, the group insists its activities are non-violent and focused on self-determination through peaceful means.
Kanu’s ongoing trial has sparked local and international interest, with several human rights groups calling for his release and fair trial.
In the statement, the Kanu family called on the international community, civil rights groups, and all lovers of justice to speak out against what they see as an unfair campaign against their son and IPOB as a whole.
They urged these stakeholders to support their call for an independent probe into the security situation in the South-East and to demand accountability from the Nigerian government.
“The Nigerian government’s reliance on false narratives and media propaganda to influence judicial outcomes and discredit a high-profile case like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s is a dangerous precedent,” the family stated.
They warned that such manipulation undermines the rule of law and could damage the country’s democracy if left unchecked.
Despite the ongoing media campaigns and legal battle, the Kanu family insists that IPOB remains committed to peaceful agitation and will not be deterred by intimidation.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are committed to a peaceful struggle for self-determination, and no amount of media manipulation will deter this just cause,” the family concluded.
