Table of Contents
The Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Defence Consortium, a group of lawyers advocating for the freedom of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has challenged the assertions made by Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters that insecurity in the South-East has diminished since the imprisonment of the activist.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, recently stated that Kanu’s incarceration, alongside heightened military operations, has led to increased stability in the region.
In response on Friday, Onyedikachi Ifedi, Esq., representing the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Defence Consortium, argued that it is not Kanu and IPOB who are responsible for the insecurity in the South-East; rather, it is the Nigerian government that has been the source of this turmoil in recent years.
In a statement titled, ‘The Nigerian military cannot whitewash history – their hands are too soaked in blood’, Ifedi criticized Onoja’s claims as an attempt to distort historical facts.
“Major General Michael Onoja’s assertion that ‘security has improved’ in the South-East due to intensified military operations and the imprisonment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not only incorrect but also a cynical distortion of history — an affront to every life lost due to state violence in Nigeria.
“This narrative crumbles under one undeniable truth – The Nigerian state is responsible for the crisis it now pretends to combat.
“Long before the term ‘separatist’ was ever mentioned, the Nigerian military had already targeted peaceful, unarmed citizens,” the statement read.
The Kanu defence team highlighted incidents such as the ‘Nkpor massacre,’ where peaceful mourners and demonstrators were shot; the killing of unarmed youths at National High School in Aba; the violence that followed a Trump solidarity rally in Port Harcourt; and the raid on Kanu’s home in Umuahia, where 28 individuals were reportedly killed, to support their claim that the Nigerian government is the true instigator of violence and insecurity in the South-East.
“For the Nigerian military to now claim to be a ‘stabilizing force’ is grotesque. The same institution that has repeatedly opened fire on civilians cannot suddenly present itself as the protector of peace.
“Instead of addressing its own record, the Nigerian state resorts to the same tired scapegoats – Blame IPOB. Blame Biafra. Blame Nnamdi Kanu. This is propaganda — not a security assessment,” the statement continued.
The defence team asserted that it was not IPOB that instigated the cult wars, political militias, and criminal networks that have emerged across Igboland. They argued that these incidents were orchestrated and financed by politicians and security collaborators who found chaos politically advantageous.
The statement noted that General T.Y. Danjuma, rtd, has openly accused elements within the Nigerian military of colluding with killers and turning their weapons on innocent civilians.
Challenging the military spokesman’s assertion that security has improved in the South-East, the defence team contended that “security cannot be gauged by silence brought about by fear, disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and military occupation.”
“That is not peace — that is repression. What the Nigerian military labels as ‘gains’ are, in reality, communities terrorized into silence, courts manipulated to justify indefinite detentions, and persistent efforts to break Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s spirit and compel him to abandon the Biafra cause. That endeavor will fail.
“No amount of British-crafted narratives, Abuja propaganda, or military bravado can erase the truth that Biafrans were killed long before they sought self-determination — and they were killed specifically because they demanded dignity,” the defence team asserted.
The statement emphasized that the international community is increasingly recognizing that the Nigerian state often fabricates enemies to divert attention from corruption, insecurity, and the failures of the elite.
Rejecting the military spokesman’s claims as “dishonest, reckless, and historically ignorant,” the defence team called for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, asserting that his detention violates both domestic and international law.
The group also demanded independent investigations into the “massacres” carried out by the Nigerian military throughout the country, as well as an end to the “deliberate criminalization of peaceful political expression in the South-East.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Defence Consortium?
The Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Defence Consortium is a group of lawyers advocating for the freedom of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
What was the response of the defence team to the military's claims about security in the South-East?
The defence team challenged the military's claims, arguing that insecurity in the South-East is primarily caused by the Nigerian government, not IPOB or Kanu.
What incidents did the defence team cite to support their claims?
The defence team referenced several incidents, including the Nkpor massacre, the killing of unarmed youths in Aba, and the violent raid on Kanu's home in Umuahia.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
