Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, has expressed his readiness to act as a guarantor for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Governor Alex Otti of Enugu State, Abaribe called on President Bola Tinubu to heed the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and other stakeholders advocating for Kanu’s release.
He stressed that freeing Kanu would help address the criminal activities plaguing the Southeast region.
Abaribe said:
“I expect the President to listen to his Attorney General and to all of us who have been urging the resolution of the issues in the Southeast. The insurgency, the Monday sit-at-home orders, and other challenges in the region have been hijacked by criminals who exploit Nnamdi Kanu’s name to perpetrate violence and other despicable acts.
“The President, being a listening leader, should consider the submissions we’ve made through various channels and take the necessary steps to release Nnamdi Kanu. His release would halt these ongoing disruptions and restore the Southeast as Nigeria’s hub of production.
“Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom is crucial for addressing the problems holding back progress in the Southeast. These issues have stifled our productivity and allowed criminals, kidnappers, and dangerous elements to thrive, using his name as a shield for their actions.”
Kanu has been in detention since June 2021, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria.
Despite an Abuja Appeal Court ruling ordering his release, the Nigerian government has refused to comply.
