By ABDULKABIR MUHAMMED

A civil rights and Advocacy group, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has urged the South East governors and lawmakers to intervene in ensuring a release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention, arguing that their silence might mean complicity.

FENRAD’s Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, revealed this in a statement signed and released on September 25, 2025. In the strongly-worded statement, the rights group urged the Igbo leaders to unite and facilitate the Biafran leader’s release. The rights group has clarified that its call for Kanu’s release was altruistic and should not be seen as politically-oriented.

Following a medical report by Kanu’s private physician in which Nnamdi Kanu’s health status was said to be “deteriorating,” the rights group has decried the federal government’s counter-argument on the report, claiming that “his (Kanu’s) right to life must be protected.”

It was recalled that the federal government had ordered the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to set up a team of medical experts to determine the health status of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. FENRAD has cautioned the federal government to prioritize human rights over politics. They declared:

“We cannot ignore the clear signs of medical neglect. The Nigerian state owes it a duty—both morally and constitutionally—to ensure that Mazi Kanu is not allowed to die in custody. This is not just about politics; this is about human rights.”

FENRAD has also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the Nmandi Kanu’s case, urging him to seize the opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to national unity and justice.

“President Tinubu has a golden opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to national healing, unity, and justice. Releasing Kanu under strict legal conditions would not only de-escalate tensions in the South East but also pave the way for inclusive dialogue and peace-building,” they appealed.