ABUJA, Nigeria — The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement in southeastern Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful self-determination following the life imprisonment sentence handed to its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism charges. Kanu, the founder of IPOB, was convicted on Thursday by a Nigerian court, which accused him of orchestrating acts of terrorism, enforcing violent stay-at-home orders, and inciting violence in the region. IPOB, which seeks the creation of an independent state in Nigeria’s southeast, has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that no weapons or attack plans were ever linked to Kanu. The group maintains that its leader has not violated any Nigerian or international laws. In a statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful emphasized the group’s dedication to peaceful advocacy and its pursuit of a United Nations–supervised referendum. The court’s decision has sparked controversy, with Judge James Omotosho stating that while the right to self-determination is a political right, any such efforts must align with Nigeria’s constitution to be considered legal. Meanwhile, violence in the southeast has been attributed to political motives, with IPOB claiming it is unrelated to Kanu, who remains in detention. The case has drawn parallels to the conviction of another Nigerian separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, who was sentenced to six years in prison in Finland in September for terrorism-related charges.
Nigeria separatists say they are committed to peaceful self-determination after leaders sentenced
