Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has renewed calls for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, stressing that his continued incarceration is unjust and harmful to national peace.
Mbah made the appeal on Monday, August 25, during a question-and-answer session at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu.
The governor had earlier delivered a presentation on the theme “Leadership and Transformation.”
When asked about his stance on Kanu’s prolonged detention, Mbah revealed that his first official visit to President Bola Tinubu after assuming office was centered on advocating for Kanu’s freedom.
“My first visit to the President was about Nnamdi Kanu. I believe that the right thing to do is to release him. Hopefully, that will be done soon,” he told the gathering of lawyers.
The governor explained that his administration had taken deliberate steps to restore normalcy in Enugu, where residents previously observed a compulsory Monday sit-at-home order enforced by pro-Biafra agitators in solidarity with Kanu.
According to him, “We met a situation where people were compelled to stay at home every Monday. Now, people trade in Ogbete and other markets in peace on Mondays.
Monday sit-at-home has ended in Enugu, as you can see. You can also move around and investigate.”
Mbah emphasized that economic activities have resumed fully across the state, noting that the end of the sit-at-home in Enugu was evidence of his government’s success in tackling insecurity and boosting confidence among residents.
He also used the occasion to highlight his administration’s strategies for driving growth and removing barriers to development.
These, he said, included reforms aimed at unlocking opportunities and ensuring investors feel safe to operate in the state.
Kanu, who remains in detention despite several calls for his release, is facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges, which he has consistently denied.
Mbah’s fresh plea adds to the growing voices urging the Federal Government to consider Kanu’s release as a step toward genuine reconciliation and long-term peace in the Southeast.
