The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB (IPOB), has given the Federal Government an 11-day ultimatum to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The group while demanding for an unconditional release of Kanu also threatened to commence a weekly lock down of the Southeast region of Nigeria if the government fails to release him before August 9, 2021.
This was contained in a statement by the IPOB Head, Directorate of State, Mazi Chika Edoziem.
Edoziem, in the statement, said that Kanu is not a criminal and as such shouldn’t be in the prison. According to him, the call for self-determination is not a crime.
He also noted that the total lockdown will only take place on Mondays until Kanu is released.
The statement reads partly: “The global community knows that self-determination is not a crime, the Nigerian government equally know that self-determination does not constitute any known offence stipulated in their constitution and therefore do not have any case against the leader of IPOB, Mazi Kanu.
“In recognition of the above fact and truth, the Directorate of State of IPOB, demands herewith an unconditional and immediate release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on or before the 8th day of August 2021, failing which we shall commence a weekly Lockdown of Biafra land starting from 9th August, 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt this total lockdown of Biafra land will take place every Monday until our leader is released unconditionally.
“This weekly lockdown is simply one of the measures we shall put in place to ensure that our leader is released hale and hearty.”
Recall that Kanu was rearrested by the FG in June and has been remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services, (DSS).
He has also been re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Meanwhile, during court proceedings on Monday, the DSS failed to produce Kanu, an action which stalled his trial till October 21, 2021. The DSS cited logistics reasons for not bringing Kanu before the court on Monday.
