Nnamdi Kanu

Nnamdi Kanu
Kanu in 2021
Born
Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu

(1967-09-25) 25 September 1967 (age 57)
Isiama Afara, Biafra[1]
CitizenshipBritish[2]
EducationUniversity of Nigeria, Nsukka[3]
OccupationActivist
Notable workRadio Biafra
MovementIndigenous People of Biafra
SpouseUchechi Okwu Kanu[4]
Websiteipob.org

Nnamdi Okwu Kanu // ⓘ (born 25 September 1967)[5][6] is a British[7] political activist known for advocating for the secession and independence of Biafra from Nigeria.[8] He is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which he founded in 2012.[9] The main aim of IPOB is to restore the defunct Republic of Biafra which existed in Nigeria's Eastern Region during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970.[10][11]

As the director of a United Kingdom-registered radio station named Radio Biafra, Kanu propagated Biafran separatism.[12][13] He was arrested on treason charges in Lagos, Nigeria on 14 October 2015 and was detained for more than a year, despite various court orders that ruled for his release. When in court, Kanu appeared regularly wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and head covering. He said in court, that he "believes in Judaism" and considers himself a Jew. He has led his Biafran people to various Jewish prayers and religious observations on different occasions.[14] On 28 April 2017, Kanu was released from prison on bail.[3] Nigerian security forces attempted to quash IPOB's armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, which culminated in a low-level conflict in early 2021. Despite the fighting, Kanu maintained that IPOB was interested in a peaceful solution and achieving Biafran independence without violence or harm. In June 2021, he was widely reported to have been allegedly re-arrested by Interpol[15][16][17] in Kenya and handed over to Nigeria but in April 2024, Interpol denied any involvement in the arrest and consequent rendition to Nigeria.[18][19]

  1. ^ "While answering question on why he travels with the Nigerian passport, the IPOB leader said "Nigeria is not my country, I was born a Biafran, my birth certificate reads Biafra and no one has ever changed that". Sun News. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-judge-denies-separatist-leader-kanu-bail-second-time-2024-05-20/ [bare URL]
  3. ^ a b Hegarty, Stephanie (5 May 2017). "Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu: The man behind Nigeria's separatists". London, UK: BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Nnamdi Kanu's wife speaks: 'My husband is a prisoner of conscience'". International Business Times. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Fani kayode Sends Birthday Greetings to Nnamdi Kanu @52". akelicious.net. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  6. ^ Mahr, Krista (30 April 2019). "The dream of Biafra lives on in underground Nigerian radio broadcasts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 November 2019. A frequent voice on Radio Biafra is its founder, 51-year-old Nnamdi Kanu, who is patched in from London.
  7. ^ Camillus, Eboh (20 May 2024). "Nigerian judge denies separatist leader Kanu bail for the second time". Reuters.
  8. ^ "I'm a British citizen, ask Buhari to release me; Nnamdi Kanu tells UK". Vanguard News. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  9. ^ Leavitt, Jericho (8 November 2023). "Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)". The Modern Insurgent. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. ^ Allison, Simon (6 October 2017). "Mystery of the missing Biafran separatist". The M&G Online. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu: The man behind Nigeria's separatists". BBC News. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Nigeria police shoot Biafra supporters". BBC News. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  13. ^ Freeman, Colin (21 January 2017). "The man fighting for independence of the West African nation of Biafra... from a flat in Peckham". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  14. ^ "What's An Igbo 'Jewish High Priest' Doing at Center of Political Drama in Nigeria?". The Forward. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Biafran separatist leader arrested and will face trial, Nigeria says". Reuters. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Nnamdi Kanu: Nigeria arrests Biafra separatist leader". BBC. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Where was Nnamdi Kanu arrested?: Ipob leader arrest extradition location - Wetin we sabi". BBC (in Nigerian Pidgin). 30 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  18. ^ "INTERPOL Says It's Not Aware, Not Involved In Rendition Of IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu From Kenya". Sahara Reporters. 30 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Appeal Court: Nnamdi Kanu contends with Abuja court over trial jurisdiction". InflowPost. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.