Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has vowed that the persecution of the Igbo people in Nigeria will come to an end under his leadership. Kanu, who has been detained by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since July 2021, made this declaration after his court appearance today in Abuja.
Kanu explained that his push for Biafra’s restoration is driven by the long-standing marginalization and oppression faced by the Igbo people in Nigeria. “This orchestrated persecution of the Igbo must end with me. It cannot continue,” Kanu stated in an interview following his trial. “I am fighting for the freedom of my people because of the discrimination and injustice we endure. The rules always change when it comes to the Igbo, even though we are supposed to be one Nigeria.”
Earlier, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja withdrew from Kanu’s trial after he requested her recusal. Kanu’s legal team had raised concerns about the judge’s alleged bias and non-compliance with Supreme Court orders, leading to the judge stepping down from the case.
Despite his prolonged detention, Kanu remains committed to his cause, declaring that the persecution and marginalization of the Igbo people will stop through his efforts for justice and freedom.