Nnamdi Kanu’s Release: A Chance to Restore Peace in the South East?

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has since 27th June 2021, been detained in the facility of the Department of State Services (DSS), was discharged by the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal of the 15 count terrorism charges against him on 13th October 2022. The outcome of the judicial process raised the expectation that the tension and security challenges which arose in the South East due to Kanu’s incarceration would abate. However, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to resume trial in Abuja, several Biafran secessionist groups in South Eastern Nigeria became restive. As a result, IPOB declared that every Monday, beginning from 9th August 2021, the five South Eastern states must observe a compulsory sit-at-home to protest the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. For this purpose, every Monday or day(s) of Nnamdi Kanu’s court appearance, the Biafran agitators enforce the lockdown of businesses, schools, government offices and all economic activities in the region. Those who dare to flout their order are visited with dire consequences that have included death, arson, wanton destruction of properties and assault. Also, under the pretext of enforcing sit-athome orders, some persons who masquerade as agitators engage in robbery.

In this edition of the Nextier SPD Policy Weekly, we consider Kanu’s judicial discharge, his continued executive detention and its import for peace in the South East.

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