The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, citing what it described as “unguarded utterances” and concerns over the future direction of the separatist movement.
The decision was disclosed in a statement issued by Chikadibia Edoziem, head of IPOB’s Directorate of State (DOS), the group’s highest decision-making body, following a meeting held on June 17.
According to the statement, Kanu has also been removed as Director of Radio Biafra as part of efforts to restructure the organisation and strengthen its operations.
IPOB said the move followed a review of an intelligence report alleging that Kanu held meetings with officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) while in detention.
The group claimed that communications linked to Kanu’s detention had contributed to the arrest and deaths of some IPOB members, adding that there were concerns over plans to create a new militia capable of triggering another wave of violence in the South-East.
Edoziem stated that the suspension was intended to prevent individuals from carrying out criminal activities under the authority of the IPOB leader’s office and to shield the movement from actions that could undermine its objectives.
“The suspension is aimed at preventing unchecked actions, reckless assumptions of authority and unguarded utterances that could result in arrests, torture and needless deaths of Biafran youths,” the statement said.
IPOB further maintained that it was founded as a self-determination movement by Biafrans in the diaspora and not by any individual, stressing that no single person possesses the authority to dissolve its leadership structure.
The group also warned that any criminal activity carried out in the name of the suspended office of the leader would not be attributed to IPOB but to the individuals responsible.
Kanu is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted on terrorism-related charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on multiple counts and received additional prison terms on other charges.
During the trial, operatives of the DSS testified that Kanu admitted to making broadcasts that allegedly incited attacks on security personnel. Another witness linked some of the violence that followed the #EndSARS protests to statements attributed to the IPOB leader.
Kanu has since appealed the conviction and is seeking to overturn the judgment.