LAGOS, Nov 26 — Igbo organisations across Nigeria and the diaspora have issued strong, unified condemnations following the latest sentencing of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, describing the decision as politically motivated, provocative, and a threat to national cohesion.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, who has been in detention for more than four years, was handed a new sentence on charges related to treasonable felony and actions deemed to threaten national security. The ruling immediately triggered swift reactions from cultural, political, and civic groups representing the Igbo community, many of whom argue that the judgement deepens long-standing grievances.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, said the sentencing “represents a miscarriage of justice that risks inflaming tensions in an already fragile nation.” In a statement, the group urged the federal government to embrace dialogue and political solutions rather than punitive measures.
Across major South-East cities, including Owerri, Enugu, Aba, and Onitsha, youth groups, traders’ associations, and community leaders staged peaceful demonstrations calling for Kanu’s immediate release. Many accused the government of selectively applying the law and ignoring repeated court rulings that had previously ordered the activist’s release. Market unions in the region also announced a symbolic one-day shutdown in solidarity.
Igbo diaspora groups in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, and Germany echoed similar sentiments, describing the sentencing as “unjust,” “provocative,” and “a step backward for national unity.” Several prominent diaspora associations announced plans to petition international human rights bodies, insisting that Kanu’s legal and human rights have been consistently violated.
Meanwhile, political analysts warn that the ruling risks aggravating unrest in the South-East, where sporadic violence and insecurity have persisted amid agitation linked to IPOB. “This sentencing may harden positions on both sides,” said a Lagos-based conflict analyst. “It will test the government’s ability to manage dissent without escalating instability.”
The Nigerian government has defended the decision as a matter of national security, insisting that the judiciary acted independently. Officials urged calm, warning against protests that could lead to violence or disruptions.
Despite these appeals, the unified response from the Igbo community rare across its historically diverse political spectrum signals deepening frustration and a renewed rallying point around Kanu’s detention.
Community elders and religious leaders have called for restraint but insist that sustained advocacy will continue until what they term “justice and fairness” are achieved.
