‘Apologize to families of victims first ‘, Arewa group flaws call for ‘unconditional release’ of Kanu

The president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), has been criticized by the Arewa Community in Southern Nigeria for his request for Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, to be released immediately and without conditions.

This was mentioned in a statement made on Tuesday in Abuja by the community’s head, Musa Saidu.

On Sunday, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, urged Buhari to free Kanu before his term as president came to a conclusion.

The call, according to Saidu, was erroneous.

“Where were they when Kanu was leading IPOB militants to kill innocent people in the South East?

“Not only in the South East, so many members of the Arewa community were attacked in Port Harcourt and nobody said anything, we have the figures, we have even the photos of those killed in cold blood.

“Now they’re clamouring for his release, what guarantee are they giving that the killings will not continue if he is released,” he said.

According to Saidu, the IPOB leader is now being tried in court and hence cannot be freed by presidential decree.

“Buhari didn’t order the detention of Nnamdi Kanu in the first place, he is being detained by the court where he is facing treason charges.

“So it will be absurd for Buhari to order his release,” he said.

In order to find answers to the issue, Saidu encouraged Ohanaeze to pay a visit to the South East victims of IPOB attacks, who were primarily settlers.

”The Ndigbo should go round the entire South East and even South South, visit the victims of IPOB attacks and try to extract forgiveness from them so it can be used to convince the court to release Kanu,” he said.

Saidu said also said that releasing Kanu would further aggravate the killings in the South East.

“IPOB militants have continued to attack security agents in the South East, and even the police are not spared, what guarantee do we have that his release will not aggravate the killings, ” he said.

Iwuanyanwu had advised Kanu’s release so that he could attend to his failing health.