Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who is currently in detention.
Kalu made the plea while addressing the media after the first meeting of the House of Representatives committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
He praised President Tinubu for his dedication to peace, development, and stability in the South-East region. Kalu highlighted that Tinubu, since taking office, has shown great support for the South-East, particularly by signing the South East Development Commission Bill—something previous administrations failed to do.
The Deputy Speaker suggested that resolving the issues in the South-East requires a political approach rather than a strict legal one. He expressed confidence that releasing Nnamdi Kanu would significantly reduce insecurity in the region and encourage the development efforts that the SEDC aims to bring.
“Only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was able to affirm that the South-East remains an integral part of Nigeria. The South East Development Commission Bill failed in previous assemblies, but when it reached him, he signed it. We are grateful because this means areas like agriculture, energy, power, and infrastructure will finally receive the attention they deserve,” Kalu stated.
Kalu also noted that insecurity is a major barrier to development in the South-East, and resolving this is key to moving forward.
“We believe that if Nnamdi Kanu is released, those using his detention as a reason for violence will lose their excuse, and security agencies can better manage threats to our people,” Kalu said.
Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 by the Nigerian government on charges including treasonable felony, inciting violence, and operating an illegal organization.
After spending more than a year in detention, Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 under strict conditions. However, in September 2017, his home in Abia State was raided by the Nigerian military during “Operation Python Dance.” Following the raid, Kanu disappeared and was later discovered to have fled Nigeria.
For almost four years, his whereabouts remained largely unknown until June 2021, when the Nigerian government announced that Kanu had been rearrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria. Since his return to detention, Kanu has faced multiple court hearings. While some courts have ruled in his favour, calling for his release, the government has continued to hold him.