Nnamdi Kanu Wanted Biafra By Any Means
In a gripping court session held Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, a startling testimony has emerged against the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The second prosecution witness, identified only by the code name “BBB,” claimed Kanu openly advocated for the creation of Biafra by any means necessary, including war.
Led by lead prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the Department of State Services (DSS) operative testified that Kanu’s activities and rhetoric were far from peaceful, contrary to his public defense. According to BBB, years of intelligence gathering and investigations linked Kanu directly to the establishment of IPOB and its armed faction, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Radio Biafra: The Alleged Weapon of War
The witness alleged that Kanu used his self-established Radio Biafra platform to broadcast inflammatory messages encouraging violence and insurrection. These broadcasts, which BBB said were later confirmed by Kanu himself, reportedly included direct calls to attack and kill law enforcement officers.
Kanu admitted the broadcasts were his, BBB told the court, referencing multiple instances where violent acts followed Kanu’s directives, including the beheading of security personnel and arson attacks on public property.
Shocking Incidents Allegedly Tied to Kanu
Among the tragic incidents mentioned were the brutal killings of an army couple, the burning of a Lagos High Court, and the assassination of Ahmed Gulak, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. BBB testified that eyewitnesses linked these acts to Kanu’s sit-at-home orders, with some killers reportedly justifying their actions by citing Kanu’s instructions.
Kanu’s Defense: Misunderstood, Not Militant
During cross-examination, Kanu denied inciting violence and claimed that his statements were taken out of context. “It’s like telling a child, I’ll kill youbwhen they misbehave, you don’t mean it literally,” he said when asked about violent rhetoric in his broadcasts.
He argued that IPOB and ESN were created as self-defense mechanisms against unchecked killings by herdsmen in Eastern Nigeria. Comparing ESN to Amotekun in the South-West, Kanu insisted that IPOB was a peaceful movement seeking self-determination through a democratic referendum.
IPOB’s Purpose and the Push for Biafra
Kanu reaffirmed that IPOB’s aim was to secure a sovereign Biafran nation encompassing Nigeria’s South-East, South-South, and parts of Benue and Kogi States. He said the ESN emerged only after local communities were left unprotected by the Nigerian government in the face of deadly attacks.
Kanu also revisited the controversial military invasion of his home in 2017, during which he claimed 28 people were killed. At that time, I was already in talks with South-East leaders for a political resolution, he said, calling the invasion unjustified and counterproductive.
Legal Tensions Mount
As the prosecution sought to admit video evidence allegedly linking Kanu to violent acts, the defense team, led by Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected, requesting additional time for review. Justice James Omotosho subsequently adjourned the trial to May 14, 21, and 22 for continued proceedings.
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