Abuja — A major Igbo community group in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has strongly condemned the conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), calling the court’s decision a “political persecution” that could deepen ethnic tensions and destabilize the southeast. In a statement issued shortly after Justice James Omotosho handed down the verdict, the group accused the federal government of using the judiciary as a tool to silence dissent and suppress the voice of the Igbo people.
The community leaders reiterated earlier demands for a fair and transparent trial, echoing calls from other Igbo organizations that have long argued Kanu’s prosecution lacks legal legitimacy. They denounced what they described as “judicial partiality,” highlighting that charges were brought under a statute (the Terrorism Prevention Act) that they argue has significant legal ambiguities.
Moreover, the group expressed concern for the political consequences of the conviction, warning that it risks reigniting separatist sentiments and could trigger renewed unrest in the southeast. They urged federal authorities to pursue a political resolution, rather than rely solely on force or incarceration, as the only durable path to lasting peace.
The Igbo body’s statement also touched on the broader issue of national reconciliation, calling on President Bola Tinubu to engage with Igbo political and traditional leaders to rebuild trust and chart a more inclusive way forward — particularly in light of the perceived disenfranchisement of Igbo voices in national governance and security.
— Dalena Reporters