In a passionate appeal to the Nigerian government, prominent groups, including American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) and the 372 Youth Empowerment Network, have intensified their calls for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as the country grapples with mounting insecurity in the Southeast. The groups assert that freeing Kanu is the key to fostering lasting peace, stability, and reconciliation in the region.
On December 25, 2024, both organizations issued separate statements, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by releasing Kanu. Their call comes at a time when Kanu’s continued detention, now spanning several years, has become a source of growing agitation among many Nigerians—especially within the Igbo community.
A Call for National Healing
Dr. Sylvester Onyia, president of AVID, expressed deep concern over what he described as the Nigerian government’s disregard for the mounting calls for Kanu’s release. According to Onyia, the prolonged detention of the IPOB leader has only exacerbated regional tensions and led to further resentment. He stressed that releasing Kanu would be a step toward national healing, while also reducing the influence of violent separatist movements.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not just a leader; he is a symbol of resistance for many in the Southeast and beyond. His continued detention is a stain on our national conscience. Injustice to Nnamdi Kanu is an injustice to all,” Onyia said in a statement.
He further noted that Kanu’s nonviolent stance had won him widespread admiration among Nigerians, both within and outside the Southeast. “Kanu’s message has evolved beyond just Biafra agitation; it is a call for justice, for fair treatment, and for the dignity of all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity,” said Onyia.
In addition to his moral appeal, Onyia argued that Kanu’s release would help curb criminal activities in the Southeast, particularly the growing influence of armed groups. The veterans believe that much of the violence in the region is attributed to political neglect and oppression.
A Political Masterstroke for Tinubu
The 372 Youth Empowerment Network, a pan-Nigerian youth organization, echoed similar sentiments, calling the release of Nnamdi Kanu a potential “political masterstroke.” In a statement signed by its president, Mohammed Saidu, the group argued that releasing Kanu would set in motion a process of national reconciliation, particularly among the Southeast and South-South regions, which have seen increasing calls for self-determination.
“The release of Kanu would not just be an act of justice, but a bold step towards the healing and unification of our country. Nigeria is at a crossroads, and it is time for us to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation,” Saidu said. He noted that although mistakes had been made in the past, the time to move forward in the spirit of brotherhood was now.
The youth group, which claims to represent young Nigerians from various ethnic backgrounds, also warned against allowing the status quo to persist. They cited the escalating insecurity and heightened ethnic tensions as evidence of the urgency of the matter.
“We must not allow our country to be driven into chaos. This is a time for action, not inaction,” the statement read. “By releasing Nnamdi Kanu, President Tinubu would be making a definitive statement about his commitment to unity, peace, and democratic values.”
Rejection of Soludo’s Stance
One of the key points raised by the veterans’ groups is the flip-flop stance of Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who has recently shifted his position on the issue of Kanu’s release. Initially a vocal supporter of Kanu’s freedom, Governor Soludo now claims that releasing the IPOB leader would not necessarily reduce crime in the region.
AVID expressed disappointment at this reversal, calling it a missed opportunity for peace. “Governor Soludo’s change of heart is perplexing, and we believe it sends the wrong message,” said Prince Joe Nduka, vice-president of AVID. “Soludo initially understood the link between Kanu’s release and the reduction of violence in the Southeast, but his recent statements suggest he is either misinformed or influenced by other political factors.”
However, the veterans maintain that releasing Kanu will go a long way in undermining the violent elements that have taken advantage of the political instability in the region. According to AVID, those who oppose Kanu’s release are more concerned with the financial gains of his continued detention than with national security.
“We firmly believe that anyone who continues to support Kanu’s detention is complicit in prolonging the suffering and insecurity in the Southeast,” said Onyia. “Releasing Kanu is not just a political gesture; it is a moral imperative.”
The Broader Context: A Call for Political Solutions
The issue of Nnamdi Kanu’s detention has been one of the most contentious in recent Nigerian history, with significant implications for both domestic politics and international relations. Kanu, who was arrested in 2021 after being extradited to Nigeria from Kenya, has been facing charges of treasonable felony and terrorism for his role in leading the IPOB movement, which advocates for the secession of the Southeast region. His arrest sparked widespread protests and calls for his release, with many critics accusing the Nigerian government of heavy-handed tactics.
While former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration took a hardline stance against IPOB and its leader, many Nigerians, including political analysts and civil society organizations, have argued that a political solution, rather than military force, is needed to address the root causes of the Biafra agitation.
In the years since Kanu’s detention, his popularity has surged, particularly among younger Nigerians who feel disenfranchised by the government. Despite the federal government’s efforts to silence Kanu and the IPOB movement, the quest for justice and self-determination in the Southeast remains strong.
