The group championing the secession of Biafra from Nigeria, Indigenous
People of Biafra Worldwide, which owns Radio Biafra, yesterday, wrote an
open letter to world leaders over the plight of its leader, Nnamdi
Kanu, who was arrested on Saturday by operatives of the Directorate of
State Service (DSS) in Lagos.
In the letter written by one Ifeanyi Chijioke, on behalf of the group,
the members said that with the arrest of Kanu, freedom of speech had
received a knock of death.
The letter reads: “the world leaders must stand up to its integrity,
pride, and in defence of the law they made,” the group said, adding that
the UN charter on the rights of indigenous people had become endangered
with the arrest of this “leader of indigenous people of Biafra.
“It’s on record that Nnamdi Kanu is a law abiding leader who has
disciplined indigenous people of Biafra to strictly abide by local and
international law.
“The gut for his arrest is nothing but a slap on the face of United Nations.
“Meanwhile, this is a gross provocation of indigenous people of Biafra
and, as endangered people, would only wait shortly for due process and
immediate release of her leader.
“The world should know that the arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the making
of monster in indigenous people of Biafra, and to prevent and save
lives, world leaders stand up to their responsibility.
“Biafrans call on world leaders to prevail on Buhari to, with immediate
effect, release the leader of the people as he is charged with no
crime,” the group added.
Meanwhile, a faction of the Movement for the Actualization of the
Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday, called on the Federal
Government to immediately release the Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi
Kanu, who was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in
Lagos.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the
National Director of Information, MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu,
threatened that any refusal by the Federal Government to ensure the
release of Kanu would lead to a worldwide demonstration and protest
which would endanger the already battered image of Nigeria before the
international community.
The statement read in part: “MASSOB faction condemns the cowardly arrest
and detention of Radio Biafra director but also accepts the fact that
it is part of non-violence struggle; as no agitation is complete without
arrest, detention and prosecution.
“It shapes the minds of the activist, drawing sympathy from the internal
and external observers. It also shows that Nnamdi Kanu and Radio Biafra
have become a factor of reckoning in Nigeria.
“The arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu by DSS will assist immensely in
reviving the consciousness and sympathy for Biafra actualization in
higher dimension which was temporarily halted by Ralph Uwazuruike’s
deviation and lust for wealth.
“This singular arrest will cause more diplomatic harm on Nigeria’s image
than good. Before Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, he has succeeded in propagating
the Biafra struggle in about 78 countries, including Biafraland
“MASSOB warns Nigeria Government to quickly release Nnamdi Kanu now or
arraign him in a competent court of justice or face an eruption of
Biafra worldwide demonstration, protest which will endanger the already
battered image of Nigeria before the international community and cause
more diplomatic harm to Nigeria,” it stated.
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