By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has challenged the Department of Security Services (DSS) to provide proof that its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is still alive.

The group in a statement shortly after DSS failed to produce Kanu for trial before an Abuja court on Monday, said it doubted if he is still alive.

A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: “We are no longer comfortable with this development. We have enough grounds to suspect foul play.

“With the failure of DSS to produce our leader in court today without any cogent reason and coupled with the torture meted out to him since his abduction in Kenya, we are worried about the safety of our Leader.

“The failure of DSS to produce our leader in court today is confirming our fear over the uncertainty concerning his health. Considering his deteriorating health condition since he was kidnapped and the refusal of DSS to grant him access to his personal physicians, it is possible that our Leader may have been killed.

“DSS should prove us wrong by producing our leader in court or granting his lawyers and family members access to him. We are running out of patience. Nigeria should not take IPOB for granted. Our leader must not die in detention.”

IPOB commended all markets, banks and government agencies, motor parks, transport companies, among others, for their show of solidarity towards Kanu without formal announcements from the IPOB leadership.

“We thank all Biafrans and friends of Biafran who in one way or the other solidarised with our leader today.

“We also demand unconditional release of all those arrested today in Abuja and other parts of the country for their solidarity to our leader. Nigeria must release them,” the statement added.

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