Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure in the Labour Party, stated to DAILY POST that the extended incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is due to ethnic prejudice. Kanu has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was brought back from Kenya in June 2021 and is now dealing with terrorism accusations in the federal high court.
Okonkwo claimed that Kanu's prolonged detention stems from ethnic prejudice, pointing out that Kanu's alleged offenses are no worse than those of other separatists who have had their cases dismissed. He mentioned instances such as Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba nationalist, and former members of Boko Haram who have been released and reintegrated into society. Okonkwo stressed that the government should think about releasing Kanu, either with conditions or without any conditions, in order to promote peace in the southeast. He highlighted that multiple court levels have either granted Kanu bail or dismissed charges against him, suggesting there are legal reasons for his release.
Okonkwo characterized Kanu as a political detainee, noting that the more time he spends in custody, the greater his influence becomes, while the government's authority diminishes. He urged the federal government to adopt a strategic approach by releasing Kanu, as it has done with other separatist leaders.
In his words: “We know about Sunday Igboho of the Yoruba nation agitator. We know of the Boko Haram people who say that they want a different country where Western education is an abomination.
“These people have been released, not just that they have been released; in the case of Boko Haram, they have been reassimilated into society and given plum jobs. Why is Nnamdi Kanu’s case different? There is an ethnic and some unnecessary bias that is keeping that man in jail. The government should be wise enough to release this man. You can release him conditionally or unconditionally.”
Many voices, especially from stakeholders in the south-east, have demanded Kanu's release. In June, 50 members of the House of Representatives appealed to President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu. Furthermore, the South-East Governors’ Forum decided to convene with Tinubu to push for the release of the separatist leader. Gunmen in the southeast have intensified their actions to enforce a Monday sit-at-home order, aiming to secure Kanu's release.