By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
November 25, 2025
As the dust continues to settle following the life-imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), prominent Igbo political voice Okemiri Alex has warned that the Biafra agitation will not end with Kanu’s sentencing — and may, in fact, deepen feelings of injustice and alienation among the Igbo people.
In a statement released Friday, Alex argued that the court’s action will not extinguish the grievances that underlie the calls for self-determination, systemic marginalization and perceived historical injustices against the Igbo ethnic group. He stressed that sentencing one individual — even a high-profile one — cannot erase decades of socio-political concerns and structural inequality. He further warned that punitive measures alone risk fueling resentment, rather than healing divisions, adding that many Igbo people will view the sentence as symbolic of collective targeting.
The life sentence imposed on Kanu by a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025, followed a protracted trial spanning nearly a decade, concluding with his conviction on seven terrorism-related charges. The court found that his broadcasts and directives had incited violence, enforced illegal stay-at-home orders, and contributed to destruction of public and private property across southeastern Nigeria.
Reacting to the verdict, several Igbo leaders and groups — including the IPOB, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and traditional rulers — publicly rejected the ruling, calling Kanu a freedom fighter rather than a terrorist, and describing the judgment as a judicial absurdity. They argue that the legal basis for branding agitation for self-determination as terrorism is flawed, and that criminalising political dissent undermines democratic rights.
Okemiri Alex’s pronouncement reflects a broader sentiment in parts of Igboland: while many deplore violence, there remains a strong yearning for recognition, fairness, and structural reform. For them, the sentencing of Kanu is not the end — but potentially a catalyst for deeper social and political mobilization. Should the government proceed without engaging with the underlying grievances, Alex warns, the agitation could shift from underground agitation to more overt — and possibly broader — demands.
As Nigeria grapples with the aftermath of the court decision, the question now is whether the authorities will address the root causes of agitation — or continue to treat it purely as a security challenge. Dalena Reporters will continue to monitor reactions from southeastern leaders, civil-society groups, and federal authorities as the situation develops.