The Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday stated that the arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, caused the death of 60 persons in four months, but assured that he will get fair treatment and trial. Nnamdi Kanu is facing an 11-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, pending before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave government position at a media briefing in Abuja alongside his counterpart, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, who unveiled Nnamdi Kanu arrest and repatriation to Nigeria. Unfortunately, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Abubakar Malami declined to say where and how the IPOB leader was arrested and brought to Nigeria.
According to the words of Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture and I read; “It will interest Nigerians to know that for over two years, our security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of the proscribed IPOB leader Mazi Nnandi Kanu as he lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designer clothes and shoes.
“Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing attire made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand when he was arrested. The Federal Government wishes to commend the Nigerian security and intelligence agencies, which collaborated to re-arrest the proscribed IPOB leader in one of the most classic operations of its type in the world.
”We commend the professionalism, diligence, patriotism and painstaking efforts of our security and intelligence agencies. We also thank the sister international agencies that collaborated with us to pull off this arrest. We can tell you that the forensic investigation carried out so far has revealed a treasure trove of information on the proscribed IPOB leader and his collaborators.
”While the investigation continues, we assure you that none of the collaborators, irrespective of their standing in the society, will be spared. They will all face the full wrath of the law for their activities that challenge our nation’s sovereignty and threaten its unity. No one, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the country.
“It is interesting that many are suddenly calling for a fair trial for Nnamdi Kanu as if he didn’t get one before he decided to jump bail and flee. There have been speculations on how this re-arrest was pulled off and in which country the fugitive leader of the proscribed IPOB was nabbed.
“What we can tell you, once again, is that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations. We continue to respect and honor the obligations,” Lai Mohammed stated.
The federal government of Nigeria equally listed the alleged sins of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in a letter to the international community, alleging that the IPOB leader orchestrated the killings of 60 persons and destruction of property in 55 violent attacks across the South-East and South-South zones within four months.
The Federal Government stated this in a letter dated April 26, 2021 to western diplomats, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. In the letter, it listed the alleged atrocities committed by members of IPOB on the instructions of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was then in exile.
One of the attachments to the letter listed the attacks on lives and property by IPOB and its militia arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in some parts of the country between January and April 2021.
According to the letter from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to some western countries, the Federal Government objected to a statement by an agency of a western nation whose government had noted that ESN was created to combat insecurity.
The Federal Government, in its letter, considered the statement as “justifying the establishment of a militia by a non-state actor and glossing over the destructive and violent acts of IPOB and the ESN. In under four months this year, IPOB has carried out over fifty-five violent acts in various parts of South-East Nigeria killing scores of people and destroying many properties.
“Indeed, it would seem that the position of the western nation seems to have further emboldened Nnamdi Kanu, the self-confessed leader of IPOB. As recently as 22nd April, 2021, broadcasting online from his base in London, Nnamdi Kanu issued a series of instructions to his militia and other members of the outlawed organization, on acts of violence to be carried out within the territory of Nigeria.”
The letter made copious references to some of the threats issued by Nnamdi Kanu. The Federal Government noted that IPOB members, following these instructions, intensified their attacks on the specified targets. According to the Federal Government, Nnamdi Kanu issued instructions from western capitals using Radio Biafra and instructing IPOB members to carry them out in Nigeria.
“For example, a day after Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State confirmed to newsmen that Nnamdi Kanu has ordered members of the group to kill him and other South-East governors, which orders were repeated on Radio Biafra, the private residence of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma in his hometown in Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, was attacked and set ablaze and two of the security men attached to the house were killed,” Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed concluded.
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