Igbo Group Sends Message to UK Govt on Repatriation of IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu

A group, Igbo Youths in Nigeria and Diaspora has petitioned the British High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria for the repatriation of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu over his alleged incitement of violence in Nigeria.

The group in a statement on Friday by its Convener, Chukwuma Dike accused Kanu of instructing his vigilante group, Eastern Security Network (ESN) to attack police and military personnel in the southeastern part of the country.

Dike also cited Kanu’s previous “unguarded utterances” that allegedly led to the breakdown of law and order in the region and Rivers state during the recent #EndSARS protest, which cost the lives of police and military personnel in and around Oyigbo. 

“Unspecified number of trucks and goods belonging to Northern Nigerians were also destroyed.

“It would be recalled that in this week alone, at least 4 naval personnel and between 8 and 10 policemen have been killed in Anambra and Imo states.

“A planned attack on the men and women of Nigerian Police in Aba on the night of the 23rd of March, 2020 was nipped in the bud when a combined team of the Police RRS, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and the military ambushed the gang and in their den, at least 16 of the would-be assailants were neutrality.

“With the recent burning of police stations, killing of law enforcement agents and the killing or maiming of former IPOB member who have left the group, the group called on the UK authorities to arrest and repatriate Nnamdi Kanu to answer for his countless crimes against Igbo people and the Nigerian state in general.

“It would also be recalled that the IPOB leader recently threatened to send his ESN after the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, for floating the Onitsha Ado Security Network to protect his domain. 

“This is one of his numerous threats to political leaders in Igbo land, the most prominent being an order for the then President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo to be stoned to death and the N100 million bounty he placed on the head of the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike for 'inviting the military to Rivers state’,” Dike said.

Kanu, the diaspora-based IPOB leader had in December 2020 launched ESN “to protect the people of South-East and South-South regions from terrorists and bandits allegedly trooping in from the North”.

Kanu described the outfit as a replica of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Operation Amotekun, earlier launched by the governors of the South-West to curb insecurity in the region.

READ ALSO: Top Pro-Biafra Group Speaks on Killings of Nigerian Security Operatives

“ESN is fully rooted in the two regions of South East and South South for the protection of our mothers, wives, sisters and children who are being dehumanised, raped, and killed at will by Fulani herdsmen and terrorists,” Kanu had said.

“We wish to restate again that ESN is a child of necessity born to eradicate terrorism and criminality in Biafra land, and it has come to stay.

"It’s not targeted against law abiding citizens but only after criminal elements and terrorists in our land.”