SOKOTO, Nigeria – A high-profile delegation from the United States has visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at the Sokoto Medium Security Custodial Centre. The visit has drawn significant attention to the ongoing legal and diplomatic saga surrounding Kanu’s detention.
The delegation was led by Lady Blessing Ijeoma from the United States. It included Dr. Sylvester Onyia, President of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), and Mr. Evans Nwankwo, Chairman of the Ambassadors for Self Determination.
Kanu, who faces terrorism-related charges, has been in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021. His transfer to the Sokoto facility after his controversial conviction, far from his southeastern stronghold and the Abuja court overseeing his case, has been a point of contention among his supporters and legal team.
Speaking to IgbereTV after the visit, Lady Blessing Ijeoma detailed the group’s experience. While the specifics of their conversation with Kanu remain private, Ijeoma emphasized the purpose of the visit as one of “humanitarian concern and solidarity.”
“Our primary mission was to see him, to ascertain his condition firsthand, and to offer our support,” Ijeoma stated. “We are a group deeply invested in peaceful advocacy and the welfare of all people.”
When pressed for details on Kanu’s health and spirits, Ijeoma said, “He remains resolute. Our observations of the facility will be part of a broader report to our organizations.” She did not elaborate on the contents of this report.
The presence of Dr. Onyia, representing the American Veterans of Igbo Descent, underscores the continued interest of sections of the Igbo diaspora in Kanu’s case and the broader issues of self-determination. Mr. Nwankwo’s group, Ambassadors for Self Determination, also points to the activist network campaigning for Kanu’s release.
This visit is likely to reignite debates over Kanu’s detention conditions and the fairness of his trial. His legal team has repeatedly alleged violations of his rights and has appealed for his release, a call echoed by various human rights organizations and some southeastern leaders.
