The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has issued a statement urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to be swayed by the actions of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, faces trial. In the statement released on Saturday, the CNG expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and called on the federal authorities to resist campaigns of blackmail that demand Kanu’s release as a precondition for sustainable peace.
The spokesperson for the CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, emphasized the need for the federal authorities to disregard the calls from Igbo leaders for Kanu’s release and to remain steadfast in pursuing his prosecution. The CNG condemned the acts of violence and separatism carried out by IPOB and highlighted the recent enforcement of an illegal stay-at-home order in the south-eastern communities, which predominantly affected minorities.
The statement posed critical questions to the federal authorities, questioning the impact of releasing Kanu without trial on the families of the security personnel who were attacked and killed as a result of his incitement. It also raised concerns about the status of those affected by the hate campaigns and propaganda orchestrated by Kanu and his collaborators. The CNG urged the federal government to maintain its resolve in seeing through Kanu’s prosecution and called for the disbandment of militias and armed groups in the south-east and other parts of Nigeria to maintain law and order and protect citizens’ lives and properties.
The CNG emphasized the importance of upholding justice and preventing regional leaders from interfering with the course of justice. They warned that acceding to the demands for Kanu’s release would raise questions about the status of innocent Nigerian citizens from other regions who have suffered as a result of Kanu’s incitement.
