The Nigeria First Project Initiative (NFPI), a civil society organization, has warned against the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), citing concerns about national peace and security.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s National Coordinator, Hamza Umar-Saulawa, described Kanu’s past actions as a threat to national stability and urged Nigerians to resist the campaign for his release.
NFPI argued that Kanu’s release would be dangerous to national peace and security, citing his past actions and defiance of the law.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 on charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through social media and Radio Biafra.
“These broadcasts,” Saulawa said, “led to the killings of security personnel and hundreds of ordinary Nigerians, including those of Southeast origin. His hate speeches sowed division and violence, and no responsible government should overlook such conduct.”
The group noted that it took international cooperation and intelligence sharing for Nigerian security agencies to rearrest Kanu in 2021 and bring him back to face renewed charges.
The initiative further condemned IPOB’s continued enforcement of sit-at-home orders in parts of the Southeast and South-South, saying the group’s activities have crippled education, commerce, and social life in the affected areas.
“Despite the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organisation, Kanu’s loyalists continue to paralyse the economy of an entire region, inflicting suffering on innocent citizens,” Sabuwar Unguwa said.
He added that Kanu’s repeated bail applications, which courts have so far rejected, raise serious concerns about his likelihood to jump bail again if granted.
“All patriotic Nigerians must support the judiciary in its firm and lawful handling of his case,” he said.
The group commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “balanced exercise of presidential mercy”, citing last week’s pardon of 175 Nigerians as proof of his humane leadership and respect for the rule of law.
Mr Saulawa said: “The President has shown magnanimity through the Prerogative of Mercy, yet he has wisely refrained from intervening in cases that threaten the sovereignty of the nation. That’s leadership guided by principle, not politics.”
The NFPI also praised Tinubu’s ongoing economic and institutional reforms, including efforts to stabilize the naira, boost foreign reserves, and overhaul Nigeria’s tax system, describing them as “vital steps toward restoring confidence and national pride.”
The group dismissed rumors of a planned coup as a ploy to destabilize Nigeria and undermine its democracy.