Jos, 04 November, 2021 / 4:36 pm (ACI Africa).
Religious leaders in Nigeria have called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, a pro-Biafra political activist with dual citizenship, Nigerian and British.
Mr. Kanu who founded and leads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was reportedly arrested abroad and repatriated to Nigeria in June. The 54-year-old activist “pleaded not guilty to charges leveled against him by the authorities, including terrorism and treason,” BBC reported October 21.
In an October 31 news report, the religious leaders who include representatives of the Catholic Church in Nigeria identify their membership and reiterate an earlier appeal.
“We refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly,” they say.
The faith-based leaders describe the release of Mr. Kanu as an “act of courage” and worth undertaking saying, “We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the Southeast Zone.”