The leadership of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a communique issued on Tuesday, the group expressed concerns that Kanu’s fair trial could no longer be guaranteed due to the ongoing legal conflicts and confusion surrounding his case across multiple courts.
The communique was released following Afenifere’s general meeting, presided over by the group’s deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, in Isanya-Ogbo, the hometown of Afenifere’s leader, Ayo Adebanjo.
Signed by both Olaitan and the National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, the statement emphasized that Kanu should be released in the interest of justice and national reconciliation.
Describing Kanu as a political detainee, the group stressed that his prolonged detention without trial is unjustifiable.
“Afenifere notes that, given the circumstances—particularly his abduction in 2021, subsequent repatriation to Nigeria, and the controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in various courts—Kanu’s fair trial is no longer assured, as is clear to reasonable members of the public. Therefore, it is evident that Nnamdi Kanu is a political detainee,” the communique stated.
“There is no valid reason to continue holding him without trial,” it added.
The group also announced the appointment of lawyer Dele Farotimi as the new National Organizing Secretary of Afenifere.
“The General Meeting has approved the appointment of Barrister Dele Farotimi as the National Organizing Secretary of Afenifere,” the statement noted.
Afenifere further reiterated its stance on the need for state police, emphasizing that Nigeria’s vast territory, large population, and federal structure cannot be adequately secured by a single, centralized police force.
“Afenifere reaffirms its position that, given Nigeria’s vast territory and population, a unitary police system is insufficient for effective and meaningful security. There is an urgent need for restructuring, including the constitutional establishment of state police,” the communique stated.
It also highlighted the security challenges faced by local authorities, citing the helplessness of Oyo State’s Governor, who recently lamented the infiltration of bandits into his state despite his role as Chief Security Officer.
