The family of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the group itself, have dared the Federal Government over the latter’s move to get the director of Radio Biafra, who is on bail, re-arrested.

Federal Government had last Friday filed an application through Loveme Odubo of the Department of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, averring that the IPOB leader had flouted all his bail conditions, including setting up a security outfit, Biafra Security Service (BSS), which was viewed as a grave threat to national security and unity of the country.

Speaking in Umuahia on behalf of the family, Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu said his elder brother was not afraid of being re-arrested as that would help Biafra to come quicker than imagined.

“In fact that will facilitate and fast track the coming of Biafra. On a more serious note, any attempt to re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu will spell doom for Nigeria, the nation will never be the same again. Re-arresting the IPOB leader means re-arresting over 70 million Biafrans. Nnamdi Kanu is not the target, he is the symbol of Biafra today, arresting him is like arresting the whole Biafrans.”

Prince Kanu said it was laughable that one of the reasons the Nigerian government had given for seeking Nnamdi Kanu’s re-arrest was that he formed what they called Biafra Secret Service (BSS).

He said it was not true, explaining that what was put in place is a vigilance group, adding that they are harmless people because IPOB is non-violent, but only uses civil disobedience as its weapon. “This group is just to police our land against Fulani herdsmen, armed robberies and all that.”

The younger Kanu said it was wrong for the Federal Government to say that the IPOB leader had flouted the bail conditions given by the court, stating: “I don’t think it sounds okay before anybody. Freedom of movement is allowed anywhere, any day worldwide. Is Nnamdi Kanu a terrorist? So, we disagree with the Federal Government on that.”

On whether the present threat from the Federal Government would make Nnamdi Kanu to abandon the agitation, Prince Emmanuel said, “In fact, Nnamdi Kanu remains resolute and very committed to the struggle. Whatever you do in terms of intimidation spurs him on the more. These are the type of things he likes so much. So, re-arresting him will make him stronger and quicken the realisation of Biafra and will also spell doom for the nation.”

Prince Kanu said his brother was granted bail on health grounds and that he was still taking treatment and had an appointment with his doctor on Monday. He added that his treatment had taken long because his brother was allegedly almost poisoned while he was in detention.

The family further stated: “The Federal Government’s current threat will never make Nnamdi Kanu to be afraid to stand trial for whatever reason. Any day, any time, he is ready to stand trial because he is a man who has committed no crime. He is more than happy to stand trial and challenge whosoever that comes up. He is not afraid of going to court, he is not also afraid of going to prison. He was in prison and issued the sit-at-home order and people obeyed, so, his going back to prison will make things worse for the Federal Government.

“Nnamdi Kanu and Arewa youths that gave the Igbo in the North quit notice, who between the two committed treasonable felony? It was the Arewa youths and since then, nothing has happened to them.”

Speaking for IPOB, Apostle Kanada, an inner caucus member of the Biafra agitation group and founder of Afra Descendants Movement of Opobo in Rivers State, advised the Federal Government not to contemplate re-arresting Nnamdi Kanu because the action would be self defeating.

Kanada said the IPOB leader never flouted any bail condition, as curtailing his movement was on its own against his fundamental human rights since according to him Nnamdi Kanu was not a statue.

“Whether he accepted the bail condition or not is immaterial at this point in time, what we are saying is that the young man is positively affecting the lives of some people and the Federal Government is supposed to be happy about that.

“If Nnamdi Kanu is re-arrested as the Federal Government is requesting, things will be worse for this country, because IPOB members and other Biafra groups both within and outside Igbo land will not fold their arms and allow their leader to suffer,” he cautioned. (Sunday Sun)

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