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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened that the upcoming November elections in Anambra State would not hold if their leader, Nnamdi Kanu is not released.
The secessionist group also declared a one-week sit-at-home protest across the South-East states starting from November 5, the eve of the governorship election in Anambra State.
IPOB’s Media and Public Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement which was made available to The Eastern Updates on Saturday, explained that the protest was aimed at prevailing on the Federal Government to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The group vowed that the protest would go on as planned if Kanu was not released before November 4.
Read Also: FG Plotting Secret Trial For Kanu – Family Alleges
Kanu is facing trial on a seven-count amended charge bordering on treason and terrorism.
Kano was arraigned on October 21 with journalists prevented from entering the court to cover the proceedings and the case was adjourned till November 10 for further hearing.
However, IPOB in a statement on Saturday asked the Federal Government to release Kanu from custody before November 4, threatening to impose a one-week sit-at-home order across the South East, which could disrupt the November 6 governorship election in Anambra.
The statement read in part, ‘Following the adjournment of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s court case to November 10, 2021, by the Federal High Court Abuja, we, the great movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafraland from November 5 to November 10 except Sunday, November 7th, a day our people worship the almighty God, if the Nigerian Government fails to release our leader unconditionally before 4th of November 4, 2021.’
The secessionist group said though it was aware of the adverse effects of the sit-at-home order on the people, it took such a drastic measure to achieve a better purpose in the collective interest of Biafrans.
The statement added, ‘We have taken time to analyse what transpired on October 21 when our leader was arraigned and discovered that the Federal Government is not sincere and only wants to humiliate him and keep him perpetually in DSS custody to rot there.
‘We all saw how lawyers, journalists, Igbo delegates, respected traditional rulers and other people who came from all around the world to witness his court case were restricted and denied access into the court premises by security agents who kept them outside under the scorching sun.’
THE EASTERN UPDATES
