A 99-year-old woman from southeast Nigeria has publicly appealed to the federal government for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Sarah Nwanyisunday Oparaocha, a resident of Afaraukwu in Abia State—Kanu’s hometown—expressed her desire to see him before she dies, speaking on the same day the community held a meeting demanding his freedom.
Mrs. Oparaocha, who will turn 100 next year, told journalists at her home on Saturday that her daily prayers include pleas for the government to release Kanu. Speaking in Igbo, she translated her appeal: “I weep every morning during my prayers because of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. I am pleading with the Nigerian government to release him so I can see him before God calls me.” She added that while her time is uncertain, seeing Kanu return would bring her great joy.
Her statement coincided with a community gathering in Afaraukwu where residents collectively urged Kanu’s release. The dual actions underscore sustained local pressure surrounding Kanu’s prolonged detention. Kanu, who heads the separatist IPOB movement advocating for an independent Biafra state, has been in state custody since 2021 following his extradition from abroad. His trial on charges including treason andterrorism continues in Abuja, Drawing recurring calls for his release from supporters and some regional leaders who argue his detention fuels regional tensions.
Beyond her primary appeal, Mrs. Oparaocha advised young Nigerians to prioritize natural, traditional diets for longevity, cautioning that unhealthy eating habits damage the body. Her message blends personal faith with cultural wisdom, rooted in the agrarian traditions of her community.
The appeal from one of the community’s eldest members adds a poignant personal dimension to the long-standing Biafran agitation. Observers note that Kanu’s case remains a sensitive political issue, with his supporters framing his imprisonment as a symbol of perceived marginalization of the Igbo ethnic group. The federal government maintains his prosecution is a legal matter, not a political one.
As Nigeria approaches its 2027 general elections, issues of national unity and regional grievances—including those championed by IPOB—are expected to remain focal points. Mrs. Oparaocha’s request highlights how the Kanu predicament continues to resonate at the grassroots level, intertwining individual hopes with decades-old questions of identity and self-determination in the country’s southeast.
