The Igbo community in Sokoto State has marked the 2024 Christmas celebration with a visit to the Sokoto Correctional Centre, where they shared food and goodwill with inmates, including the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The visit, which took place during the Christmas period, was aimed at spreading love, unity, and compassion among inmates, regardless of their background or the offences they were accused or convicted of. According to the community, the gesture was inspired by the personal disposition of Nnamdi Kanu, who is known for promoting communal values and inclusiveness.
A statement issued by the leadership of the Igbo Community in Sokoto and signed by Nze A. C. Madu was made available to journalists on Thursday. The statement explained that the visit was not only a Christmas outreach but also a humanitarian service rooted in Igbo culture and universal human values.
According to the statement, members of the community celebrated Christmas with Kanu and other inmates at the facility. The community said the idea was to ensure that no inmate felt lonely or forgotten during the festive season, especially at a time when many families gather to celebrate.
The statement noted that the community was aware of reports that Kanu prefers not to eat alone, particularly during important occasions like Christmas. Based on this understanding, the group decided not to restrict their visit or support to him alone.
“Rather than limiting their generosity to a single individual, they elected to provide festive meals for the entire inmate population of the facility,” the statement said.
As a result, the community provided Christmas meals to about 1,300 inmates at the Sokoto Correctional Centre. The food was shared among inmates of different ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds, creating what the group described as a moment of shared joy and fellowship.
“This benevolent act ensured that all approximately 1,300 inmates shared in the spirit of the season,” the statement added.
The leadership of the Igbo Community explained that the initiative was guided by the Igbo principle of Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya, which means “be your brother’s keeper.” This principle, they said, encourages people to look out for one another, especially those facing hardship.
According to the group, the Christmas outreach was not driven by politics or ethnic sentiment but by a desire to promote humanity, kindness, and unity. They stressed that the act was extended to all inmates without discrimination.
“It was performed as a humanitarian service to all, irrespective of origin or circumstance,” the statement said.
The community added that the visit was meant to offer inmates a sense of belonging and hope during a period that can be emotionally difficult for people in custody. Christmas, they noted, often reminds inmates of freedom, family, and life outside prison walls.
By sharing meals and spending time with the inmates, the Igbo community said they hoped to bring comfort and reduce feelings of isolation.
The visit also highlights the long-standing tradition of community-based charity during festive periods in Nigeria. Across the country, religious groups, cultural associations, and individuals often visit prisons, orphanages, hospitals, and internally displaced persons’ camps during Christmas to share food and gifts.
In Igbo culture, communal living and shared responsibility are highly valued. Acts of kindness, especially toward the vulnerable, are seen as a moral duty rather than a favour. This belief, the Sokoto Igbo community said, informed their decision to reach out to the inmates.
The presence of Nnamdi Kanu during the visit attracted attention because of his prominence in national discourse. Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a group that has been at the centre of debates over self-determination and security issues in the South-East. His detention has remained a sensitive topic, drawing reactions from supporters, critics, and observers across Nigeria.
However, the Igbo community in Sokoto avoided political statements during the visit. Instead, they focused on the humanitarian aspect of the outreach and the message of peace.
The group said the Christmas gesture should be seen as a call for unity and understanding at a time when Nigeria continues to face social, economic, and security challenges.
They expressed hope that the act would inspire other communities and organisations to promote peace and kindness, especially during festive periods.
“The gesture is a message of peace and unity for all,” the statement concluded.
The Sokoto Correctional Centre, like many others across the country, houses inmates awaiting trial as well as convicted persons. Conditions in correctional facilities have often been a subject of concern, with civil society groups calling for reforms, faster trials, and improved welfare for inmates.