Aloy Ejimakor, legal counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has described his client as a prisoner of war rather than a criminal suspect.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Ejimakor argued that Kanu’s prolonged detention represents a continuation of hostilities against the Igbo people. He accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of launching what he termed a “second war” against the Southeast, using Kanu’s arrest and incarceration as a strategic tool in a broader agenda.
“When Buhari threatened to teach Ndigbo the ‘language’ they understand, it amounted to a formal declaration of a second war on the Igbo nation,” Ejimakor wrote. “The capture and continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—whom Buhari viewed as the foremost symbol of Igbo resistance—only affirms that Kanu is a prisoner of war, not a common felon.”
Ejimakor’s remarks refer to a controversial 2021 comment made by Buhari during a televised interview, where the former president vowed to respond to IPOB and other separatist agitators in a manner they would understand—widely perceived as a military-style crackdown.
Kanu, who was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 under controversial circumstances, has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) ever since. Despite numerous legal efforts, including appeals to both Nigerian and international courts, he remains detained pending trial on charges related to treason and terrorism.
In a related development, Kanu recently voiced optimism about his legal battle, expressing confidence that he will soon regain his freedom. This came during a visit from the President-General of the Igbo Community Association (ICA), Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, who met with him at the DSS facility in Abuja.
According to sources familiar with the visit, Kanu was in good spirits and reiterated his hope that the courts would ultimately rule in favor of justice and the rule of law.
As public pressure continues to mount for Kanu’s release, Ejimakor and other supporters argue that his detention is politically motivated and serves as a broader attempt to suppress the aspirations of the Igbo people.
