Three United States–based rights groups have raised alarm over President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks about the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The organizations warned that such comments could negatively influence public opinion and ongoing legal battles tied to the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, Advocates for Victims of Injustice and Discrimination (AVID), Rising Sun, and Ambassadors for Self-Determination expressed serious concern.
They argued that Tinubu’s words may escalate tensions instead of calming them.
The groups stressed that Nigeria’s leaders should focus on violent actors driving killings and mass displacements across the country.
They also urged the government to uphold due process, warning that prolonged detention without resolution risks deepening mistrust among citizens.
According to the statement, human rights must remain central to any action taken against separatist movements.
The advocacy groups said excessive rhetoric and endless legal battles will not provide long-term peace.
Instead, they advised the government to explore dialogue and reconciliation as more constructive approaches.
The groups also appealed to the United States Congress and the U.S. Department of State to closely watch Nigeria’s governance and rights record.
They further encouraged the international community to press Abuja toward peaceful solutions rather than confrontations.
“We call on Nigerian authorities to respect existing court rulings regarding Mr. Kanu’s detention,” the organizations declared.
“Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.”
The activists highlighted how long detention without closure can harm Nigeria’s democratic image abroad.
They warned that if ignored, the situation may fuel stronger resistance from Kanu’s supporters, increasing instability in the South-East and beyond.
This fresh intervention adds international weight to growing domestic pressure on the Tinubu administration to address the case.
Several Nigerian voices, including lawyers, religious leaders, and civil society groups, have long demanded compliance with previous court judgments ordering Kanu’s release.
While the government maintains that IPOB poses a threat to national unity, critics insist that peaceful dialogue, not suppression, is the key to lasting stability.
With the U.S. rights groups now stepping in, global attention on Nigeria’s handling of self-determination issues is likely to intensify.
For many, Tinubu’s next moves could determine whether the matter cools down or sparks greater political friction.
