Biafra: IPOB raises alarm over DSS’s alleged restrictions on Nnamdi Kanu’s visitors

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issued a warning to the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday regarding the treatment of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB expressed concern over the DSS’s decision to prevent Nnamdi Kanu from receiving visitors, deeming it suspicious. They dismissed the agency’s justification for denying Kanu visitation rights due to recent off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States as absurd.

According to Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesperson, the secret police allegedly denied Kanu access to visitors on Thursday, the 9th of November, 2023. Powerful accused the DSS of attempting to cause hardship and inflict suffering on Kanu.

In a statement, he stated, “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, raise concerns over the DSS’s obstruction of our leader’s visitors at their headquarters in Abuja.”

“The excuse given by the Abuja DSS, citing a shortage of personnel to handle logistics for Kanu’s visitors due to elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi States, is frankly absurd. During previous national elections, our leader received visitors at the DSS detention facility. Therefore, the denial of visitors to Kanu during these recent governorship elections seems calculated to cause hardship.”

“The DSS’s reasoning for denying our leader visitors as court-ordered appears dubious. We caution the DSS to handle our leader’s situation carefully.”

“IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are aware of the tactics employed by the DSS and the Nigerian government. Going forward, we expect equitable visitation rights for our leader without selective treatment.”