Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has vowed to secure Nnamdi Kanu's release from detention. She believes President Tinubu will release the IPOB leader to expose criminals fueling violence in the South-East, calling for peace and unity in the region.
Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has vowed to push for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in detention since 2021. Ojukwu, wife of the late Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu, made this pledge during the 13th memorial anniversary of her husband in Owerri. She expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would recognize the importance of Kanu’s release, emphasizing that it would help expose the individuals responsible for violence in the South-East region.
Ojukwu believes that freeing Kanu would help distinguish true freedom fighters from criminals who have been using Kanu’s detention as a cover for their illegal activities. She pointed out that the region has been plagued by violence, with many Igbo communities experiencing insecurity, kidnappings, and economic downturns. The minister called for collective efforts to restore peace and stability in the South-East.
Kanu, facing terrorism charges, was arrested in 2015 and later repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021. Despite a 2022 court ruling that declared his extradition unlawful and ordered his release, the government appealed the decision, citing national security risks. Ojukwu, however, remains hopeful that Kanu’s release will be pivotal in ending the region's ongoing violence and restoring order to the South-East.