On January 14th, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State made a public appeal to the federal government of Nigeria to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who has been in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest in June 2021. Governor Soludo made this call during a political gathering in the state capital, Awka, and stated that if the federal government is unable to release Kanu unconditionally, he is willing to take responsibility for his release by signing any necessary surety. He emphasized the importance of Kanu’s presence in order to address the ongoing security issues in the Southeast region and offered to provide housing and care for him in Awka upon his release.
Furthermore, Governor Soludo highlighted the fact that Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention for several months without any charges being brought against him, which raises concerns about the rule of law and due process. He urged the federal government to either release Kanu or charge him in a court of law. Governor Soludo’s call for Kanu’s release reflects the growing sentiment among many in the Southeast region that the ongoing detention of Kanu is unjustified, and that it is detrimental to the efforts to address the underlying issues that have led to the recent tensions in the region. It remains to be seen whether the federal government will respond to the Governor’s appeal, and whether the situation with Nnamdi Kanu will be resolved in a peaceful and lawful manner.
