The federal government has finally narrated how it arrested Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
In a defensive statement by the presidency, Kanudeclared that Kanu was said to have been apprehended in a well coordinated international cooperation coupled through cross border cooperation.
This was confirmed through the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who noted that Kanu was nabbed, handed over to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and then returned back to Nigeria to face the law.
The President did not specify where Kanu were detained, rather applauded the security agencies for a good job.
He said the Buhari government would not allow the fundamental human right to freely express personal or regional views at the expense of the unity of the country.
“Last week the enhanced collaboration of Nigerian law enforcement agencies, as they executed with the great synchronization arrests of individuals who had inflicted pain and hardships on fellow citizens.
“The subversive leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, as a group known for its murderous action and violent messaging, was detained as a result of cross border cooperation.
“This international cooperation was executed in a closely coordinated fashion, following which he was handed over to our National International Agency NIA, and returned to Nigeria to face the law.
“The violence inspired by IPOB, has led to hundreds of fatalities particularly targeted at government assets and law enforcement agencies.
“Additionally, there has been at last count, 58 separate violent attacks, heavily concentrated in the South East, which heaped further hardship on our honest and hardworking citizens, preventing them from earning the livelihood and going about their normal lives.
“The government had long been monitoring the activities of IPOB, and had strong cause to believe that their funding sources includes proceeds of suspected illicit criminal activities.
“By this singular action of our security forces, sanity, calm and peace has been restored to our communities which previously lived in constant fear of those misguided elements”.
While, stating the next step to stop the rampage in the Northwest, the President commended the efforts of the security agencies, for striving hard to combat the situation.
Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News | July 7, 2021
