Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has been re-arrested after four years on the run from Nigerian authorities.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, announced at a media briefing on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, that international collaborative efforts led to Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.
The IPOB leader was arrested on Sunday, June 27, but it’s unclear where exactly the arrest took place.
Nnamdi Kanu is already back in Nigeria and will face pending charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Charges against him border on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms, improper importation of goods, and others.
Nnamdi Kanu’s troubles with the Nigerian government started when he was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in 2015.
He spent two years in custody until he was granted bail on health grounds in April 2017.
He then disappeared from the public space after an alleged attack by military troops on his father’s compound in Abia State in September 2017.
He missed numerous court dates, leading to a revocation of his bail, and an order for his arrest.
Kanu was not seen in public for another year until he resurfaced while praying at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem in October 2018.
He has since then continued his agitation from abroad, even though the government declared IPOB a terrorist organization and proscribed the group’s activities in the wake of his 2017 disappearance.
The group has since then created a paramilitary wing with the aim to fight insecurity in the southeast, but the Eastern Security Network (ESN) has repeatedly been linked by authorities to a spate of recent attacks on security agencies, attacks that have left dozens of operatives dead.
Malami on Tuesday accused Kanu of instigating many of those killings and other violent acts in the southeast using his media broadcasts.
“He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio, and online broadcasts against the Nigerian state and institutions,” the AGF said.
Twitter Suspension In Nigeria
Nnamdi Kanu was also one of the central figures reportedly responsible for the Federal Government’s decision to suspend Twitter in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, accused the social media company of failing to acknowledge Nigeria’s request to deplatform the IPOB leader.
He said Kanu was allowed to use the platform to incite his followers to attack security operatives and denigrate the Nigerian state.
Nigerian React Over Re-Arrest Nnamdi Kanu
While some Nigerians counsel the Federal Government to handle Kanu’s case with caution, others, especially Biafra campaigners, expressed firmness of purpose. Cheers and jeers for the Nigerian government.
See reactions below;
The arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu just confirms one thing: The Buhari Government has all the resources needed to arrest those behind kidnapping, banditry and terrorism in Nigeria. They know exactly where they are and how to get them. But like TY Danjuma said, THEY COLLUDE!!
— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) June 29, 2021
The biggest news in Nigeria today is that Nnamdi Kanu was arrested.
The biggest news in Ghana today is that @Toyota has opened a plant there to build cars and sell in Nigeria.
Ghana is arresting poverty, while Nigeria is arresting people! Why wont Ghana progress?#TableShaker pic.twitter.com/80Ndn2mmWz
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 29, 2021
The fundamental rights of Nnamdi Kanu should be respected in compliance with the relevant articles of the constitution of the FRN.His trial should be guided by justice,fairness and the rule of law and not sentiments,prejudice,hate,ill feelings,vengeance or bigotry.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) June 29, 2021
The only thing I fault Nnamdi Kanu on is his call on his members to kill policemen and soldiers. Other than that, he is a freedom fighter. Yes, he is under arrest today. Buhari who has arrested him was himself under arrest between 1985-88. No condition is permanent#TableShaker
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 29, 2021
Nnamdi Kanu will become useless if the the matters of injustice in our jaundiced federation are addressed. Until then, arrest one Nnamdi Kanu and a million others will emerge! Biafra has become an idea with a life of it’s own. Nigeria needs re-engineering/restructuring URGENTLY.
— Israel odita (@OditaIsrael) June 29, 2021
The same energy used in arresting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should also be put in arresting Killer Herdsmen, Bandits, Unknown Gunmen.
— Kahnz #EndSARS (@Kahnz6) June 29, 2021
