Fellow Biafrans and friends of Biafra, we have received the disturbing news of the abduction and incarceration of Nnamdi Okwu Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu) the leader of one of our Pro Biafra groups, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and a son of Biafra, by the Nigeria state on Sunday 27th June 2021.
It has now been confirmed that Nnamdi Kanu is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to be held until the recommencement of his trial on the 26th of July 2021.
Biafra Government in Exile hereby condemn his abduction and detention and will hold the Nigerian government accountable for his safety and wellbeing whilst in their custody. We also expect, as do the international community, that he be treated with the utmost care, fairness, openness, and human dignity. We expect his trial will be fair, open, transparent, and not in secret.
Let us be clear, Nnamdi Kanu is now a POLITCAL PRISONER just like Nelson Mandela under apartheid South Africa. He has not committed any criminal offence that we are aware of, all he has done is to demand for self-determination for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, which is an inalienable right under international conventions.
The demand for freedom and self-determination is not a demand for war or any form of violence. All Pro Biafra groups agitating for BiafraExit from Nigeria have done so in a peaceful fashion. We therefore urge the Nigerian government to please stop killing, intimidating, abducting, disappearing, and harassing peaceful Biafra agitators and protesters.
We want to make it abundantly clear that no amount of arrest, intimidation, high-handedness, extra-judicial killings, detention, and torture of Biafra agitators will stop the legitimate and peaceful agitation of BiafraExit from Nigeria. Biafra Government in Exile, in conjunction with all Pro Biafra groups will continue the agitation in a peaceful, diplomatic, and democratic manner until we achieve our noble aim of freedom and self-determination.
For the avoidance of doubt, we want to categorically state that we do not support violence in any way, shape or form, and no Pro Biafra Organisation, at home and in diaspora is involved in any form of criminal destruction of lives, private and public properties in any part of Nigeria. We hereby disassociate ourselves from such criminal activities.
We also want to observe and put on record that the Nigeria state seems to encourage and facilitate the heinous crimes committed by gun toting Fulani terrorist herdsmen who have flooded cities, towns, villages, and forests in Biafra and have been slaughtering men, women, and children, burning churches, destroying farms and sacking whole communities as Nigerian security agencies watch and do nothing.
We want to make it abundantly clear that a peaceful people facing attacks such as these have a right, in fact a duty, to defend themselves when the state demonstrates unwillingness to fulfill its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of the people.
Nnamdi Kanu has this same right as any other person, thus he should not be treated like a criminal for exercising this right. The DSS should note that any advanced interrogation techniques that Nnamdi Kanu may be subjected to is an infringement of all his rights, any denial to counsel in preparation for his trial is an infringement of his rights, any denial of visitation from his family and friends is an infringement of his rights, any denial for him to speak freely as he choose is an infringement of rights, these rights remain inalienable and the waving of these rights cannot be construed upon him.
In seeking for freedom and self-determination, the Peoples and Nation of Biafra make neither war nor peace with the peoples or state of Nigeria, rather, we exercise a Natural right, a Popular right, a Political right, and a right supported by United Nations Organisation Charter and International Law – the right of Self-Determination.
To all Biafrans at home and in the diaspora, we implore you to go about your lawful business calmly, and not allow anyone to use this opportunity to either take advantage of you or use you to create chaos in your communities or the environs you reside in.
To all political, sociocultural, traditional, and spiritual leaders in Biafra land (Southeast and South South), we urge you to stand boldly for the truth, speak out against all forms of injustice, terrorism, subjugation, and stifling servitude.
Finally, we call for dialogue and constructive engagement with the Nigerian state, with the view to finding a Comprehensive Peaceful Agreement that will enable Biafra to Exit from Nigeria in a civilized, peaceful, and democratic fashion.
Thank you and God bless you all. Signed
Office of the Prime Minister Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE)
