The Presidential Special Adviser on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has said there is no reason to relocate convicted terrorist Nnamdi Kanu from the Sokoto prison following recent United States airstrikes in the region.
Ahmad made the remarks on Friday while responding to calls by some individuals and groups suggesting that Kanu’s prison location could be under threat due to the US military operations against terrorist elements in northwestern Nigeria.
According to Ahmad, Kanu’s status as a convicted terrorist means that there is no connection between him and the recent airstrikes. “Kanu is a convicted terrorist and the U.S. strikes were aimed at terrorist targets, so under those circumstances, there is no reasonable basis for calling for his relocation,” he said.
The U.S. airstrikes, conducted as part of an ongoing campaign against terrorist groups in northwestern Nigeria, targeted locations linked to violent extremist activities. These operations were carried out following collaboration between the United States and Nigerian authorities, who have been working together to combat terrorism in the region.
Bashir Ahmad highlighted that Kanu is securely held in a federal correctional facility in Sokoto, and that the prison authorities have measures in place to ensure the safety and security of all inmates. He dismissed any speculation suggesting that the airstrikes posed a threat to Kanu or required special intervention.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested and later convicted on terrorism-related charges. His incarceration has been a point of discussion among various groups, some of whom have raised concerns about the security of high-profile prisoners amid ongoing military operations in Nigeria’s northwestern states.
Ahmad also praised the collaboration between the Nigerian government and international partners in tackling terrorism. He highlighted that the U.S. airstrikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian security agencies and targeted only known terrorist locations. “The operations are focused and precise,” he said. “They are not linked to prisons or law-abiding citizens, and Kanu does not fall under those categories.”
The Presidential aide’s clarification comes amid rising public discussions on the impact of military operations on various aspects of national security. Some members of the public had expressed fears that airstrikes in Sokoto and neighboring areas might affect the safety of inmates, particularly high-profile detainees. Ahmad’s statement aims to calm such concerns and assure Nigerians that all necessary precautions are being taken.
Nigerian authorities have been working closely with international partners to curb the activities of terrorist groups, especially in the northwestern states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. The operations include airstrikes, ground missions, and intelligence-based interventions aimed at dismantling terror networks that have threatened civilian populations and disrupted economic activities.
Kanu’s incarceration has been a focal point for discussions on national security, justice, and political stability. While some groups continue to question his imprisonment, the federal government maintains that his detention is based on a legal process that followed his conviction for terrorism-related offenses.