By Ayomide Otitoju
The Igbo Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to heed public calls for the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In an open letter on Tuesday, the President General of the Igbo Community Association, FCT, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, urged the president to reflect on the growing outcry over Kanu’s continued detention, warning that the issue could become a major political distraction if not addressed promptly.
“The cries for the release of the freedom fighter, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have reached a feverish pitch and may pose a distraction to your administration if you fail to act timely,” Ellis-Ezenekwe stated.
He cautioned that Kanu’s prolonged detention—now over four years without conviction—was increasingly seen by Nigerians as unjust. The association also recalled Kanu’s controversial extradition from Kenya by Nigerian security agents.
“We call on you to use your executive powers and influence to resolve this matter before it spirals out of control,” the letter continued. “A true democratic leader listens to his people. The people want Nnamdi Kanu to be freed. He deserves justice.”
Ellis-Ezenekwe described Tinubu as a “clever and wise politician” but urged him to demonstrate similar wisdom as president by ensuring that the matter is handled democratically and in the interest of national unity.
