Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has claimed that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been secretly moved from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto State.
Sowore made the allegation on Friday in a statement posted on his Facebook page, a day after Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Federal High Court for terrorism-related offences. Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021, following his arrest and return to Nigeria from Kenya.
His sentencing has triggered intense reactions across the country, particularly in the South-East, where IPOB’s activities and Kanu’s imprisonment have remained a sensitive political and security issue.
In his statement, Sowore alleged that the transfer was carried out secretly to keep Kanu isolated and vulnerable. According to him, federal authorities deliberately relocated Kanu to Sokoto to prevent him from receiving regular visits and support from his followers.
“Yes, they have already planned it,” Sowore wrote. “Their intention since yesterday was to move Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to a notorious prison based in the northern parts, where his safety cannot be guaranteed. I can confirm now that he’s already in Sokoto prison.”
Sowore further claimed that government officials decided against placing Kanu at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, suggesting they feared the South-East community in the capital would frequently visit him and turn the facility into what he described as “a place of pilgrimage.”
According to him, officials argued that Kanu would “become a king” if kept in Kuje, as many of his supporters would gather there regularly. He alleged that this was the main reason authorities opted for a more distant location.
Sowore also accused some political leaders in the South-East of working against Kanu behind the scenes. He argued that Kanu’s influence and popularity have become a threat to certain politicians in the region.
“I have said it before without fear, MNK’s greatest enemies are the politicians from his own region,” he wrote. “They fear his influence, they fear his connection to the people, and they want him silenced permanently.”
He claimed these political actors discouraged efforts to secure Kanu’s release and helped frustrate protests calling for improved conditions for political detainees, including the #FreeNnamdiKanuNOW demonstrations led by civil society activists.
Sowore further alleged that the government is only creating “an illusion of renewed hope” to keep the public calm. He accused federal authorities of having no intention of releasing Kanu, “not even for political calculations or electoral convenience.”
Nnamdi Kanu has remained a central figure in Nigeria’s political landscape for nearly a decade. His movement, IPOB, has demanded a referendum for Biafra’s independence, citing historical grievances and claims of marginalization of the South-East.
The Federal Government designated IPOB as a terrorist organisation in 2017, a decision many analysts and groups, including some international organisations, have questioned.
Kanu was first detained in 2015, released on bail in 2017, and later fled the country following a military operation in his hometown in Abia State. His re-arrest in 2021 was followed by months of legal battles, public demonstrations, and increased tension in the South-East. His followers often hold him as a symbol of the Igbo struggle for justice and self-determination.
The recent judgment sentencing him to life imprisonment has further deepened the ongoing national debate on the handling of separatist agitations, fair trials, and government strategy in managing security in the South-East.
As at the time of reporting, neither the DSS nor the Nigerian Correctional Service has confirmed or denied Sowore’s claim. Government agencies typically avoid commenting on the exact locations of high-profile detainees for security reasons.
However, Sowore’s allegation has already begun circulating widely on social media, raising concerns among Kanu’s supporters. Many are calling for clarity from the government, while others fear that transferring Kanu to a far-off location may worsen the emotional and political tension surrounding his case.
Kanu’s sentencing has already sparked debates among politicians, traditional rulers, and community groups in the South-East. Several leaders—including Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, who earlier appealed for calm—have warned against actions that could worsen unrest in the region.
Sowore’s latest claims may renew fears among residents, especially as the South-East has experienced periodic violence linked to IPOB activities, security operations, and criminal groups disguising themselves as separatist fighters.
With Kanu now reportedly moved out of the DSS facility, legal experts say his lawyers may seek access to him immediately to determine his current condition and location. His legal team may also file applications to challenge the transfer if they believe it endangers his rights or safety.
Meanwhile, activists like Sowore continue to push for public awareness and pressure on the government, insisting that the case is not only a legal issue but one with wide political and humanitarian implications.
