Nnamdi Kanu arrested in Kenya – Brother, CSO

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), may have been arrested in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, according to multiple sources.

A sibling of the Biafran agitator, Kingsley Kanu, has reportedly said in a statement, Wednesday, that Kanu was arrested in Kenya.

The statement, however, did not say when and the circumstance he was arrested.

But another source, a civil society organisation, was more elaborate. In a statement, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law gave more in sight.

It said: “The Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu was arrested on the Sat night of June 26, 2021 in Kenya, a member of the African Union. He had travelled to Israel, having transited from Germany to Israel before heading to Kenya, where he was intercepted on Saturday night, 26th June 2021.

“He appeared to have been trapped by some persons of his own tribal stock over some lingering issues. His arrest was initially taken to be ‘a minor immigration issue’, which later turned out to be a clear act of ‘strawmen’ and subsequently attracted the involvement of the Nigerian diplomatic officials and security attachés at Nairobi, the country’s capital.

“He was later on Sunday, 27th June 2021 handed over to Nigerian security attaches and diplomatic officials after providing paper evidence that ‘he is being wanted in Nigeria for continuation of his trial where he jumped bail’ and escaped ‘from judicial justice’.”

READ: Nnamdi Kanu presented in court, remanded in DSS custody

Nnamdi Kanu in handcuffs

The statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Obianuju Igboeli, Esq. and Chidimma Udegbunam, Esq., on behalf of the Onitsha, Anambra State-based organisation, stated that the Society was not worried by the arrest of Kanu and bringing him back to Nigeria, “but we are deeply concerned over his safety, healthcare and upkeep in the custody of the country’s Spy Police where he may likely remain throughout his trial period.”

The Society added rather snidely that the Nigerian government deserved commendation for bringing the IPOB leader who had jumped bail back to Nigeria, alive, to continue his trial.

“The Nigerian Government also deserves to be ‘commended’ for not bringing the IPOB Leader in ‘Body Bag’. In other words, we are happy that the Nigerian Government did not ‘kill him extra-judicially on transit and falsely labelled’ the circumstances of his death, a notorious practice that has become the Government’s modus operandi in recent times,” it stated.

The Federal Government has remained silent on the details of Kanu’s arrest, especially which country he was “intercepted”, and this has continued to fuel speculations of the circumstances of his arrest.

READ: Nnamdi Kanu: IPOB leader holds Nigerian passport – Full text of Malami’s speech

However, Kingsley, in his statement, published by Daily Trust, said his brother, Nnamdi Kanu, had been subjected “to the most serious violations of international law.”

According to him: “My brother Nnamdi Kanu demands the right to self-determination for Biafra. Self-determination is the right to that underpins the United Nations. Because Biafrans support Nnamdi Kanu’s call for Biafran self-determination, my brother has now been subjected to the most serious violations of international law.

“My brother has been subject to extraordinary rendition by Kenya and Nigeria. They have violated the most basic principles of the rule of law. Extraordinary rendition is one of the most serious crimes states can commit. Both Nigeria and Kenya must be held to account. I demand justice for my brother, Nnamdi Kanu.

“The British High Commission in Nigeria must insist upon my brother’s immediate release. They must guarantee his safety and security. Nnamdi Kanu must be returned home to the UK to his wife and his sons who live here. The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, must make clear to the Nigerian authorities that they will not tolerate the unlawful detention of British citizens and that the UK Government condemns the Nigerians and Kenyans for undermining the rule of law.

“Foreign Secretary Raab must be clear. There will be consequences for those who resort to extraordinary rendition. The British Government must insist upon justice for Nnamdi Kanu.”