The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly condemned recent public calls for the execution or extrajudicial killing of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, warning that any harm brought to him would aggravate civil unrest and escalate the struggle for self-determination across southeastern Nigeria.
In a statement released on Tuesday from Awka, Anambra State, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, addressed remarks allegedly made by political commentators and security analysts urging state authorities to eliminate Kanu as a resolution to the ongoing regional tension.
”Those calling for the execution or assassination of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are ignorant of history and political movements,” Powerful stated. “Killing our leader will not crush the Biafra struggle, it will only ignite a fire that cannot be easily extinguished.”
IPOB reiterated that Kanu represents the collective aspirations of millions and warned that harming him would lead to unpredictable consequences nationwide.
The group urged the Federal Government and international observers to respect fundamental human rights and follow constitutional due process regarding Kanu’s ongoing legal custody in Abuja.
Reaffirming their stance, IPOB maintained that the political and security challenges in the South-East can only be addressed through dialogue and Kanu’s unconditional release.
The separatist movement stressed that previous military crackdowns and harsh legal measures have failed to quiet the self-determination movement, urging political actors to seek peaceful resolution rather than inciting violence.
