Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have vowed to impose absolute lockdown on the Southeast and other states designated as "part of Biafra" on Monday, August 9, 2021, if Nnamdi Kanu, isn't unconditionally released before then.
IPOB claimed in a statement signed by the Head Directorate of State, Mazi Chika Edoziem, that the Federal government intends to punish and subject Kanu to a media trial while keeping him in custody until October 2021. The group urged Governors, individuals, and businessmen it had previously identified as collaborators with the federal government to the abduction and extradition of Nnamdi Kanu to pray sincerely that his health was not jeopardized and to be prepared to face the terrible repercussions.
The statement reads:
“The global community understands that self-determination is not a crime, and the Nigerian government understands that self-determination doesn't constitute any known offence defined in their constitution, and hence there is no case against IPOB leader Mazi Kanu.
In acknowledgement of the foregoing facts and truths, the IPOB Directorate of State demands the immediate and unconditional release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on or before August 8, 2021. Failing to do this will we would begin a weekly lockdown of Biafra land on August 9, 2021.
For the avoidance of doubt, this absolute lockdown of Biafra territory will continue every Monday until our leader is unconditionally released. This weekly lockdown is just one of the measures we'll put in place to ensure our leader's safe release.
To all the governors, businessmen in Biafra land, and all those who are complicit in the abduction of our leader from Kenya to Nigeria, those of you who contributed money to enable the Nigerian government to kidnap our leader, pray fervently that his health is not jeopardized and that nothing untoward happens to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, because otherwise the land of Biafra will not accommodate you and the Biafra people.
We affirm our willingness to go to whatever length to secure our leader's immediate release. Allowing our leader to remain in the clutches of the adversary until October 2021 is utterly unacceptable to IPOB.”