Terrorism: Drawing Parallels Between Kanu and Igboho — By Elempe Dele
In the case of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of proscribed and labelled terrorist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, one cannot fail to notice the infusion of both political and ethnic opportunism, the usual wedlock of convenience that only comes from pretence or ignorance.
Let us not easily forget the hay days of Boko Haram when the then opposition used it for cheap political point against the government in power by opposing military attacks against the extremist group.
The echoes of those political oppositions has continued to haunt Nigeria till date. The immediate consequence were abductions, forced marriage of minors and mass killings of innocent citizens that have spread across the entire north and beyond. Today, those who defended the extremists are hiding in crevices not to become victims.
We must stop for retrospections and use this period to shut those who whenever there is trial such as that of Kanu, which ought to be left for the courts to decide, immediately go the ways of ethnicity, marginalization, prejudice, partisan hatred and conspiracies theories as if some people should be immune from the justice system. Some activist were even in the streets recently doing what no one know – perhaps attempting to pee in public.
We must be unambiguous against crimes, not glossing over them for any reason or rationalize them along ethnic and political lines.
From cardboard defense system positions, some are hiding and drawing parallels between Kanu and Sunday Igboho as if that will change the facts before the court to determine its ruling. It is not only laughable, but bemusing.
Before we go into the comparison, let it be known that wanting away, that is the clamour for independence from any nation state is not illegal, what might be deemed illegal is determined by the manner of approach deployed in the seccession bid.
In Spain, the Catalan independent movement was respected until it organized an illegal referendum in 2017 and concluded it is now independent. Some of its leaders fled the country while others were imprisoned for the role they played in the act.
There are lively arguments, especially during this period of Kanu’s trial, questioning why Sunday Igboho walks free while Kanu remains detained and on trial, alleging ethnic bias.
First, both Kanu and Igboho’s issues were from the Buhari led administration, so the issue of ethnic bias cannot be effectively introduced since this administration has nothing to do with both case. Secondly, Igboho’s activism as at that time was focused on Yoruba rights and an independent Oduduwa Republic. There are no evidence of arming any specific group with the intention to fighting against the Nigerian state nor did he ever order the killings of security agents and innocent citizens.
The main issue he allegedly had with the Buhari administration was against Miyetti Allah’s opposition to the formation and operation of Operation Amotekun. In 2021, he became a person of interest when he gave a seven-day ultimatum to Fulani herders in Ibarapa when there was crisis between the natives and herders like we see often in Benue, Taraba, Jos and several other states. It was during this period that agents of the Department of State Service, DSS, raided his home. Apart from these, there are no specific evidence against him on terrorism or treason.
However, as for Kanu, his antecedent history cannot be compared to the mere small time self proclaimed leader of the want-away Oduduwa Republic, the illiterate mechanic who rose to prominence through political patronage. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of the designated terrorist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group has orders of sit-at-home in the East from him and those who fail to obey in some instances have been maimed, properties destroyed or killed. It over time extended its mandate from attacking civilians to attacking security agents, as often ordered by Kanu.
So many have lost their lives in the process while some of the IPOB commandants have also been killed while others have been arrested, and has made damning confessional statements.
Apart from all these, the IPOB leader also formed the Eastern Security Network, ESN, which carry illegal weapons like AK47 and has carried out several armed confrontations with security agents leading to loss of lives on both sides.
Kanu was first arrested in Nigeria in October 2015 on charges including treason and terrorism, but was granted bail in 2017 through a political solution engineered by the likes of Senator Ike Ikweremandu and Senator Aberibe.
He would later leave the country after a military raid on his home. While in exile, he continued broadcasting and leading the IPOB from his UK base by giving toxic orders and inciting them to commiting crimes. One of his companions, Simon Ekpa, was recently sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Finnish government arrested him on suspicions of inciting terrorism, including financing armed groups and spreading propaganda that led to violence in Nigeria. Ekpa became popular within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement after Nnamdi Kanu’s 2021 arrest.
He positioned himself as a hardline factional leader, declaring himself the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) He was often broadcasting to IPOB members to enforce the sit-at-home orders, boycotts elections and armed resistance against the nation’s authorities. His actions, including calls for violence against security forces and civilians perceived as opposing Biafra, led to accusations of inciting terrorism.
Now, what makes Kanu world apart from Igboho are his broadcast to the terrorist group, IPOB, which he gives orders to carry out specific missions just like Simon Ekpa. His messages are on several social media platforms so I am not revealing privileged information.
Kanu whips up some unguarded youth in a frenzy of orders with a cacophonous tenor that their existence is under threat in Nigeria.
He arouse the bitter hangover sentiments of the unfortunate civil war where one or two million citizens perished, and orders them to go about committing heinous crimes just as members of Boko Haram and other extreme groups in the North are doing till date.
His orders are loud and violent – a manifestation of some worrisome yet to be diagnosized psychological outbreak. His visible anger cannot effectively be traced to a logical causal point.
His emotions towards seccession are extreme and fanatically laced with homicidal hubris. “Kill them, they are not humans…burn down…bury with 2000 heads… his dead must be avenged…deal with those who dont obey the order, they are traitors…kill them…”
According to the DSS that gave evidence in court, these orders have led to ruthless, bestial and cult style executions in streets, homes, markets and in forests. One of the most painful was the killing of Late Dora Akunyili’s husband, Chike Akunyili.
He was returning to Enugu from Anambra from an event where he went to attend the honour of his later wife. The gruesome video showing his corpse was shared on social media then, which his son, Obumneme, confirmed.
Which ever of the political or ethnic spectrum you belong, the videos from these orders and the actual executions should invoke some repulsion deep inside of you.
The actions have deeply undermined the fabric of the society which ironically he claims to be protecting from marginalization and leading to self-actualization. I do not understand the contradiction.
What Kanu was doing, like every zealot, was indoctrinating these disenchanted people who have been gaslighted to seeking revolutionary answers to the percieved oppression.
They were being ordered to carry out anarchic demonstrations by Kanu all the way from the UK until he was captured in a controvercial manner by the Buhari led administration again, to which he has been facing trial since 2021.
We must collectively be seen to repudiate these actions that pique one humanity against another in the most barbaric manner. Until we do this, we would be seen as tacitly endorsing acts of sabotage, kidnapping, destruction and murder that is taking place in the vast swathe of this patchwork called Nigeria.
