A human rights lawyer, Christopher Chidera, has said that the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not based on any strong legal grounds but rather a punishment for challenging the Nigerian government.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Chidera argued that Kanu’s arrest and prolonged detention are political, pointing out that the government has failed to charge him for specific claims, including his controversial statement that former President Muhammadu Buhari had died.
“If Kanu’s statements were false and dangerous, why hasn’t he been charged for spreading misinformation?” he asked. “The truth is, Nnamdi Kanu doesn’t need propaganda to gain followers. His people follow him because of his courage, consistency, and the sacrifices he has made.”
Chidera described the situation as a deliberate attempt to weaken Kanu’s influence among the Igbo population, stating that the government sees his popularity as a threat.
The lawyer also used the opportunity to speak on wider issues facing the African continent. He blamed the continent’s struggles not on colonialism, but on what he called “mental laziness.”
“Africa’s biggest curse isn’t colonialism; it’s our refusal to think,” Chidera said. “Until Africans learn to reason critically, question those in power, and rely on evidence instead of emotion, we will remain stagnant.”
Kanu has been in detention since June 2021, after he was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya. Despite several court rulings in his favor, he remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), with his trial dragging on.
His continued detention has sparked national and international debates over human rights, the rule of law, and the Nigerian government’s handling of dissent.