Igbo cultural group, Obinwannem Foundation has faulted the rearrest and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in an East African country, Kenya.

In a statement issued by the Director and Founder of Obinwannem Foundation Worldwide, Nwachineke Ugwu Okechukwu.

“The rearrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in a foreign land, is illicit. Nigerian government should have gone through an appropriate legal channel, had it wanted him [Kanu] to be in court. This could be that Nigeria has an ulterior motive.

“What Kanu, a British citizen, was being subjected, is more than abduction. It is called ‘extraordinary rendition’. The government should release him before anything else.

“Whereas, I enjoin Ndi-Igbo to come out en masse, and show solidarity to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; even as we look forward to the total liberation of Ndi-Igbo and Biafrans at large.”

Reports have revealed that Kanu was arrested in Kenya. Meanwhile, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, at a briefing on Friday July 2, had denied aiding the arrest of Kanu, stating that the Nigerian government should tell how it arrested the IPOB leader.

Following the unfolding events, Kanu through his lawyer on Friday, confirmed in vivid terms that he was cruelly tortured by the Kenyan security men before he was illegally handed over to Nigerian security agents.

In the same light, IPOB officially stated that it had recieved confirmations that the Kenyan government was fully involved in Kanu’s illegal arrest and reptratriation by the Nigerian security agencies.

“We are so disappointed by this callous act perpetrated by an African country, who is aware that Kanu is a British citizen, they still went ahead to propagate his arrest. This does not only breech the right of Kanu, but also undermine the constitutionality and sovereignty of the British government.

“We totally condemned this act of injustice, and charge the Kenyan government to give details of how a man who entered their country will be unjustly arrested, tortured without the knowledge of the government, considering the fact that he has done nothing to warrant such ill treatment, this is ‘vicious and monstrous’.

“We therefore, warn that the Kenyan government should pray fervently that nothing should happen to him, if not the government would bear the consequences.

“We urge the Nigerian government to give Nnamdi Kanu a fair trial and ensure that his safety is guaranteed.”

Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News / July 4, 2021