IPOB threatens total lockdown in South-East

IPOB says it would enforce a total lockdown of the South-East if its leader Nnamdi Kanu was not produced in court on October 21.

Oyindamola Olubajo • September 22, 2021

IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu and President Muhammadu Buhari

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it would enforce a one-month total lockdown in the South-East if the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari fails to produce its leader Nnamdi Kanu in court on October 21.

“If the federal government refuses to bring him to court in his next court appearance on October 21, 2021, the entire Biafra land will be on total lockdown for one month,” IPOB said in a statement by its spokesperson Emma Powerful.

Mr Kanu, who is facing charges for treasonable felony and terrorism, is currently in the custody of the State Security Service after he was mysteriously repatriated from Kenya on June 29.

He was summarily re-arraigned at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court upon his return but the SSS has since failed to produce him in court on the next adjourned date.

The court had ordered that he be remanded until the continuation of his trial set for July 26, but Mr Kanu’s trial was adjourned until October 21 after the SSS failed to produce him in court.

However, Mr Powerful alleged that the Buhari regime was plotting against the IPOB leader’s appearance in court for his trial on October 21.

The “wicked” plot, according to the spokesperson, was aimed at demoralising Mr Kanu and Biafra agitators.

“The federal government of Nigeria has again perfected plans not to bring him to court on that day. Their wicked plan is to perpetually keep him behind bars without trial to see if they can demoralise him and Biafrans but they are late,” the statement said.

IPOB threatened that the entire southeastern region will be on total lockdown starting from October 21.

“The federal government will know that they cannot take us for granted any more. Our peaceful disposition as a people should not be misconstrued as weakness,” the group said.

“Their plan is to suppress agitation and force everyone into submission but Biafrans won’t succumb to their intimidation,” it added.

Meanwhile, the IPOB leader has sued the Buhari regime for violating his fundamental human rights and is seeking a N5 billion compensation.

Mr Kanu is also seeking the court’s order to mandate the current administration to return him to the United Kingdom, according to the lawsuit filed by his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor.