Nation
Kanu: Britain Demands Explanation From Nigeria
.IPOB, MASSOB Berate Kenyan President, FG
The United Kingdom has stated that it will seek clarification from the Federal Government of Nigeria on the circumstances and legality of the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra was re-arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, two days after he was arrested and extradited to the country.
However, the Head of Communications, British High Commission, Mr Dean Hurlock, restated that Nnamdi Kanu, who is a British citizen, was not arrested or extradited from its territory.
Hurlock said, “We can reaffirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK nor was he extradited from the UK.
“With regards to any questions about the possible legality of his arrest, the British High Commission in Abuja is currently in the process of seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of the arrest.”
Hurlock further confirmed that British Government was ready to provide consular assistance to Kanu.
He said, “With regard to any questions about whether the British High Commission is providing assistance in this case, we can confirm that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stands ready to provide consular assistance.
“With regard to any questions about what the UK thinks about the proposed legal process that Nnamdi Kanu is facing in Nigeria, the UK would expect any trial or legal proceedings to follow due process.”
However, Nnamdi Kanu is expected to return to court on July 26.
The lead counsel to the detained IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said members of the legal team had formally applied to the Department of State Service to allow them access to their client.
Recall that Kanu, who is facing trial for treasonable felony, jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country for the UK when soldiers stormed his parents’ residence at Afaraukwu, Abia State.
He is now being remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services by the order of the Federal High Court.
Similarly, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday, accused the President Uhuru Kenyatta, of Kenya, of stopping so low to allegedly collude with a terror-friendly government, like that of Nigeria in abducting its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB, expressed disappointment with the Kenyan President for allegedly betraying its Mazi Kanu, saying it will hold him accountable for his action.
It also alleged that President Kenyatta and his government allegedly planned the abduction immediately it leader entered the country before contacting Nigerian on his presence in the country and subsequent smuggling into with the assistance of Nigerian security agents.
The Biafra agitating group also, urged the Biafrans and the public to disregard all the alleged fake stories and news concocted by Nigeria Government and their agents have been peddling about how and where Kanu was arrested, who may have lured him to Kenya, who was with him at the time of arrest, saying that he was rather abducted not arrested.
A statement by IPOB” Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, therefore, called on all Biafrans both home and in the Diaspora to boycott travels with Kenya Airlines; stop patronising any product made in Kenya; and to boycott any business dealings with Kenyans, following their country’s betrayal.
IPOB alleged that through their preliminary findings, President Uhuru Kenyatta was very instrumental to the abduction of our Kanu in Kenya, before his smuggling into Nigeria by security agents.
IPOB wondered why the Kenyatta will prefer to betray its leaders, wondering if it is because of Nigerian oil money or the N100million bounty placed on Kanu’s head by some people it described as Northern charlatans.
The IPOB’s statement read in part, “We the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ably led by our great and indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, express our disappointment with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and his government over his role in the abduction of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his subsequent smuggling into Nigeria by the wicked Nigeria security agents.
“We are still at shock why a President like Uhuru Kenyatta would stoop so low to collude with a terror-friendly government like Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari to abduct and dehumanise our Leader for doing nothing other than demanding the freedom of Biafrans from the Nigeria bondage.
“Based on our preliminary findings, President Uhuru Kenyatta was very instrumental to the abduction of our Leader in Kenya. The treacherous action of Uhuru Kenyatta against Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans at large is a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, and United Nations Code.
“We still don’t understand why Uhuru Kenyatta and some corrupt officials of his government would prefer to betray Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans? Is it because of Nigeria oil money? Is it because of the paltry N100million bounty placed on Kanu’s head by some Northern charlatans? Why will President Uhuru Kenyatta sell our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to the evil hands of Nigerian government?”
IPOB described as so shameful that Uhuru Kenyatta would belittle himself in a manner he has just done, adding that “By this wickedness and grievous sin, Uhuru Kenyatta has demonstrated his affection for the murderous Fulani terrorists ravaging the entire Nigeria killing and maiming indigenous people in their ancestral lands.”
“Uhuru Kenyatta and his partners in crime should get ready to meet us at the International Criminal Court, ICC. This act of terror against our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a NATO citizen, British citizen with British International Passport and member of other international organizations will not go unpunished.
“As we continue with our investigations into this crime with a view to unmasking all the collaborators, we announce the following interim actions until further notice.
“We call on all Biafrans both home and in the Diaspora to boycott travels with Kenya Air Lines; to immediately stop patronising any product made in Kenya; and to boycott any business dealings with Kenyans. We cannot be relating friendly with anyone collaborating with our oppressors to keep us in perpetual slavery!
“We also want to urge all Biafrans and members of the public to disregard all the concocted rubbish the wicked Nigeria Government and their agents have been peddling about how and where our leader was arrested.
“He was never arrested but abducted. All these cock and bull story is to twist facts and blackmail our selfless leader who they have seen as the major obstacle against their agenda to completely Islamise and Fulani Nigeria.
“Nobody should believe these lies. They are only intended to de-market our Leader and puncture his global reputation and teeming follower ship.
“The global family of IPOB reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty, belief and confidence in our leader Nnamdi Kanu. Biafrans are united behind him in his current ordeals in the hands of our oppressors. We also wish to remind the Nigeria Government that nothing should happen to our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the re-arrest of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi kanu, by the Nigerian government.
The Biafra agitators, who described Kanu’s arrest as inconsequential and insensitive, declared the development will not affect the Biafra struggle.
The organization stressed that no amount of President Muhammadu Buhari’s intimidating ‘Fulanistic military operations against the agitators of Biafra and Oduduwa Republics will deter or shake the concluded resolutions for independence of Biafra and Oduduwa Republics.’
”Fulanistic President Muhammadu Buhari led Nigeria government is confusedly blind and clueless. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and activities of pro Biafra agitators do not pose any danger to Nigeria existence, the problem that poses a dangerous extinction to Nigeria existence is Fulani domination of Nigeria state over the general interest of other ethnic nationalities,” the group said.
A statement by the leader, Uchenna Madu, said Kanu has proven to be a loved figurehead in championing the self-determination struggle for the actualization and restoration of Biafra.
”As freedom can never be achieved on a platter of gold, the Biafra revolutionary struggle for actualization and restoration can never be deterred or fluctuated because of Nnamdi kanu’s current ordeals in the hands of our oppressive enemy,” it said.
”Nigeria state will soon regret arresting him because he will become a thorn in their flesh. We shall never relent or be discomforted because of Buhari and his Fulanistic sponsored genocidal operations in Biafra land which MASSOB always see as a sign of jittery and frustration of Fulani people.”
The organization maintained that Biafra agitating groups are not the problem.
”Biafra agitation is only a reaction to the many injustices, exclusion, second class citizenship, born to rule philosophy, marginalization and other forms of inequality that characterise the Nigerian state.
”Nigeria is a state where some are first class citizens while others are second class; a state where some are born to rule while others are perpetual outcasts, a state where state policy deliberately denies us critical developmental infrastructure while according others same. A state where prejudice, tribalism, exclusion and hate are elevated while nation-building is ignored, a state where it seems the only logic for unity is to share oil resources and not on the basis of consent, mutual respect, fraternity and shared brotherhood,” it said.
MASSOB warned the Nigeria government to be extremely careful with Kanu, adding that they must accord him a fair and unbiased court hearing.
”The people of Biafra will never keep quiet over Nnamdi Kanu. MASSOB also condemned the military invasion and attack on Sunday Igboho’s residence which led to the killings of many. MASSOB supports and will continue to identify with Oduduwa Republic agitation,” it added.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.
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