The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally declared Nnamdi Kanu, his parents, Eze Israel Kanu and Ugoeze Kanu, missing.
In a statement in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Wednesday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group urged the international community to prevail on the Federal Government to produce Kanu.
The statement alleged that 28 persons were killed in Kanu’s compound after the alleged military invasion of his Afara-Ukwu home in Umuahia, Abia State.
The group said, “We, the Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide, under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to demand the urgent attention of the United Nations mission in Nigeria and especially that of the government of the United Kingdom to prevail on the present regime of President Buhari and his henchman, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce our leader or tell the world what has become of him.
“Nnamdi Kanu, who incidentally holds British citizenship, has been missing since a detachment of officers stormed his residence on Thursday, 14 September, 2017.
“Ever since this brutal assault that left 28 dead inside his compound, including two of his cousins, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, along with his parents, has not been seen.
“The video footage of the assault and the extent of destruction wreaked on his family home are in the public domain.
“The assailing soldiers also stole a lot of valuable materials from the palace of which we have corroborative evidence and incontrovertible proof that place the stolen items in the possession of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; the newly appointed Abia State Commissioner of Police and other Nigerian security personnel.”
In another development, the Chairman, Centrium Initiative For Development And Fundamental Rights Advocacy, Dr. John Danfulani, has berated the Federal Government for declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation.
Danfulani, in statement, said he did not believe that tagging IPOB a terrorist organisation and providing excuses for the deadly Fulani herdsmen were pillared on empirical facts or done in good faith.
He urged the Nigerian judiciary to live up to its billing of being the last hope of the common man by restoring the rights of the non-violent group to continue its agitation.
The statement read in part, “We hold this truth as self-evident that the struggle for self determination via a referendum by IPOB and any other group that so wish is a legitimate quest.
“CEDRA believes that constructive and direct engagement with IPOB remains the best way of solving this quagmire.”
