The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a group of current and former U.S. military personnel of Igbo origin, has accused the British government of complicity in the continued detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, who holds both British and Nigerian citizenship, has been in Nigerian custody since June 2021 after being arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria on terrorism charges.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, AVID President Dr. Sylvester Onyia condemned Britain’s “deliberate silence” and alleged that the UK not only abandoned Kanu but also supported his detention. He warned that if Kanu’s deteriorating health leads to his death in custody, Britain would share responsibility.
Citing international law, including Article 12 of the ICESCR, Onyia said Britain is obligated to secure medical care for Kanu. He accused the UK of violating the UN Convention Against Torture and Kenya’s sovereignty during the rendition, claiming the process was an “abduction” rather than a legal arrest.
Onyia further alleged that Britain has actively aided Kanu’s prosecution, pointing to suspicious timing between British Council visits and Nigerian legal actions, as well as UK statements downplaying his court discharge.
He argued that Kanu’s Igbo heritage and his challenge to Nigeria’s unity—an “artificial state” created by Britain in 1914—are the real reasons behind the UK’s inaction. AVID also accused Britain of maintaining a post–Biafra War policy of marginalisation against the Igbos.
The group issued several demands, including a public UK condemnation of the rendition, Kanu’s immediate release, a parliamentary inquiry into breaches of the Vienna Convention, and an end to diplomatic backing for his detention.
“If Kanu dies in custody, his blood will be on Britain’s hands,” Onyia warned. “Silence is not neutrality—it is complicity.”
