The Igbo community in Canada has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to secure the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This call is prompted by concerns over Kanu’s deteriorating health and the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
According to a statement by Chief Dr. Anicetus Nwizundu, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Canada, Kanu’s continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) for over four years has sparked widespread concern among the Igbo diaspora. Despite repeated appeals for his freedom, Kanu remains in custody, with his health condition reportedly worsening. Medical experts, including cardiologists, have examined Kanu during hospital visits and confirmed the seriousness of his condition.
The Igbo community in Canada is seeking compassionate intervention from the Nigerian government, emphasizing that Kanu’s incarceration is a result of his advocacy against the marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigeria. The community stresses that it is not seeking confrontation but rather fairness and justice within the Nigerian federation. The statement highlights the need for recognition, equality, and peace for the Igbo people, who often feel treated as second-class citizens in their own country.
The worsening insecurity in the Southeast region is also a major concern, with the community describing the situation as “terrifying and disheartening.” The lack of safety in the region has made it difficult for people to travel or sleep peacefully at night, due to the pervasive insecurity. The release of Nnamdi Kanu is seen as a potential step towards restoring calm and unity in the region, which could pave the way for sustainable peace and development.
The Igbo community in Canada is appealing to President Tinubu to demonstrate compassion and statesmanship by ensuring Kanu’s freedom, in the interest of national healing and unity. The community believes that Kanu’s release could help correct many of the wrongs afflicting the Igbo homeland, ultimately leading to total peace. With the situation in the Southeast region continuing to deteriorate, the community’s call for Kanu’s release has taken on a renewed sense of urgency.
