The leadership of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), citing concerns over the fairness of the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
In a communique issued after the group’s general meeting on Tuesday, Afenifere argued that Kanu’s right to a fair trial is increasingly compromised due to the controversial and conflicting legal processes across various courts. The meeting, which was chaired by the group’s deputy leader, Oladipo Olaitan, was held in Isanya-Ogbo, the hometown of Afenifere’s leader, Ayo Adebanjo.
The statement, signed by both Olaitan and Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, described Kanu as a political detainee and urged his release in the interests of justice and national reconciliation. According to the communique, there is no justifiable reason to continue holding Kanu without trial.
“Afenifere notes that from all circumstances, particularly since his abduction in 2021 and repatriation to Nigeria, and the subsequent conflicting legal proceedings, it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu is undeniably a political detainee,” the communique stated. “His fair trial may no longer be guaranteed, which makes his continued detention without trial unjustifiable.”
Additionally, Afenifere made an important announcement regarding the appointment of a new National Organising Secretary. Lawyer Dele Farotimi was appointed to the role, a decision that was unanimously approved by the group’s General Meeting.
The communique also reiterated Afenifere’s longstanding call for the establishment of state police. The group argued that Nigeria’s vast territory and large population, combined with its federal structure, make it impossible for the country to be effectively secured with a single, centralized police force.
“Afenifere maintains that Nigeria, with its extensive land area and large population, cannot be effectively secured by a unitary police system. There is an urgent need for restructuring to institutionalize state police within the constitution,” the statement read. “This will prevent situations like the recent one in Oyo State, where the governor, despite being the Chief Security Officer of the state, could only helplessly watch as bandits infiltrated his jurisdiction.”
