Biafra: Tension, Fear In Southeast As Trial Of IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu Resumes

As the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, resumes today, October 21, 2021, there is anxiety and palpable fear in the Southeast.

Kanu is expected to appear before Justice Binta Nyako-led Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today (Thursday), provided the Department of State Services, DSS, produces him in court.

Recall, the IPOB leader was rearrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in July to continue his trial. Kanu was first arrested and prosecuted in 2017 by the Nigerian government for agitating for Biafra. He was released the same year by Justice Nyako, but he jumped bail and left for the United Kingdom, UK.

Ahead of the trial, the UK government had issued a travel advisory to its citizens against travelling to the Southeast over what it termed “heightened security presence.”

In the advisory, the government predicted the possibility of a crisis in the region as a result of the resumed trial.

The UK government pointed out the increasing protests and killings followed by the sit-at-home order as the reasons its citizens should apply constraints in travelling to the Southeast.

Following the rearrest of Kanu, the Southeast had witnessed increased insecurity which linked to IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN. But the separatist group had on several occasions denied being responsible for the menace.

A self-acclaimed disciple of Kanu, Simon Ekpa, warned of a possible revolution from the Southeast due to the handling of Kanu’s trial.

Ekpa warned the Nigerian government that the handling of Kanu’s trial may lead to a “ruthless and destructive revolution.”

In a tweet, Ekpa wrote: “How you handle Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on 21.10.2021 will determine the future of terrorists controlled Nig, before its disintegration. The outcome of the court, whether the trial holds or not, will determine how the coming revolution will be, whether ruthless or destructive revolution.”