Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazurike, has declared his willingness to serve as a defence witness for Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Uwazurike, who once worked with Kanu when the latter served as Director of Media for MASSOB before establishing IPOB in London, also expressed readiness to join any peaceful protest calling for Kanu’s release. Kanu has been in detention since his controversial rendition to Nigeria in 2021.
In a video message released on Wednesday, Uwazurike described Kanu’s prolonged detention as an attempt to humiliate the Igbo people. “I have personally reached out to Aloy Ejimakor, telling him that I want to be one of the defence witnesses to Nnamdi Kanu,” he said. “I am ready to be part of any peaceful demonstrations in Abuja or anywhere in Nigeria for his release, provided they are non-violent.”
Uwazurike also dismissed the terrorism charges against Kanu, accusing the Nigerian government of applying double standards in its treatment of pro-Biafra activists. “When my men were being killed in the Southeast, were they terrorists? What did they do?” he asked.
He added that the actions against Kanu were intended to embarrass the Igbo nation. “It was just to humiliate the Ndigbo by commanding our leader,” Uwazurike said.