IPOB : Presidency reacts to Nnamdi Kanu’s reappearance

The presidency on Tuesday reacted to the reappearance of Nnamdi
Kanu months after the Biafran leader was rumoured to have been
killed.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s media ade, Garba Shehu, spoke on
the matter in an interview on the BBC Hausa Service.

“If it happens to be true, the video footage showing Mr Nnamdi
Kanu; the truth has been revealed about his alleged assassination
against Nigerian government,” Mr Shehu said.

Mr Kanu, the controversial leader of the Indigenous People Of
Biafra (IPOB), disappeared last year after clashes between his
supporters and soldiers involved in a military exercise in Abia
State.

Many IPOB supporters accused the military of killing the IPOB
leader. His trial for felony was also stalled due to his absence as
his lawyer insisted he was either killed or kidnapped by soldiers
who attacked his family house during the military exercise.

The separatist leader however appeared in a video last Friday;
with his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, saying he had since spoken to his
client who apparently escaped out of Nigeria. Although the video
showed him in Israel, the Israeli government has said Mr Kanu had
not entered the country recently and the video could be an old
one.

Mr Kanu later did a broadcast on Sunday from his hideout.

“I have returned full-time and I’m coming back home I will bring
hell with me,” Mr Kanu said in the broadcast monitored on the IPOB
Facebook page. He insisted on his group’s demand for a referendum
for Igbos to determine if they want to be part of Nigeria or want a
separate Biafra country.

While speaking on Tuesday morning, Mr Shehu said the Nigerian
government was put under pressure on false accusations Mr Kanu had
either been killed or kidnapped.

“This fairy tale went up to United Nations General Assembly
where some IPOB members staged a protest accusing Nigeria
government of kidnapping and even killing of Mr. Kanu,” Mr Shehu
said.

He said now that Mr Kanu has appeared, people will know who lied
between the government and those that made accusations.

When asked what will happen if Mr. Kanu eventually returns to
Nigeria, Mr Shehu said his trial would be expected to continue.