Kanu’s Family Implores South East Governors to Intervene in His Release from Detention

With seemingly no end in sight to the detention and trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his family has sought the intervention of the South East governors to intervene.

The family expressed their desperation in an emotion-laden open letter addressed to the governors, signed by Emmanuel Kanu, the family spokesman and younger brother of the detained Biafra activist.

In the letter titled: “Unlawful Detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Prisoner of Conscience”, the family spokesman urged the South East Governors to act with "utmost urgency" given the failing health of the IPOB leader.

Emmanuel said the governors should, like Kanu’s family, be "deeply concerned about his "unlawful and unjust detention," adding that it should prick their conscience that an act of illegality was being perpetuated under their watch.

He appealed to the state chief executives "to rectify this grave injustice without delay" by using their individual and collective good offices to get the authorities to free the Biafra activist.

Kanu’s family called on the Governors "to take immediate and decisive action to secure the release of my brother" whose continued detention was ab initio politically motivated.

"It is your duty as the governors to ensure the protection of every individual's civil liberties, regardless of their beliefs or affiliations. Your obligation to uphold the principles of justice and fairness should guide your actions in every decision made.

"In recent events, it has become abundantly clear that my brother, a law-abiding citizen and a prisoner of conscience, has been wrongfully held against his will and his fundamental human rights have been violated under your watch.