A group of Jewish priests from the Unique Forum of Orthodox Judaism has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
This plea comes as concerns grow about Kanu’s deteriorating health, with his family urging the Nigerian government to allow him access to medical treatment outside the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja.
The IPOB leader has been held in solitary confinement since 2021 after his controversial rendition from Kenya.
In an open letter, the forum emphasized that Kanu’s release could help bring peace and stability, particularly in Nigeria’s South East, where tensions have escalated due to his prolonged detention.
The group’s leader, Rosh Nasishemtov Ihe Madunweiheyah, along with members, visited Kanu’s family at their ancestral home in Isiama Afaraukwu, where they stressed that Kanu’s imprisonment is unjust and called on President Tinubu to respond to the growing demands for his freedom.
During the visit, Madunweiheyah read from a letter co-signed with the forum’s chairman, Elder Okamulata Egbu.
The letter asserted that Kanu was only advocating for the rights of his people and posed no threat to warrant his continued imprisonment.
The forum further argued that Nigeria’s current troubles are tied to Kanu’s unjust treatment, stating that divine displeasure has fallen on the country as a result.
In their message to the President, the priests wrote: “We humbly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet to see reasons to release our son and brother Nnamdi Kanu to go and worship the creator of heaven and earth for peace to reign in this great nation”, the letter read in part.”
The forum also conducted prayers at the burial site of Kanu’s late parents, HRM Eze Israel Kanu and Ugoeze Nnenna Kanu, further showing their support for the family.
Kanu’s sister, Princess Nnenne Kate Kanu, expressed her gratitude to the group for their concern and solidarity. She revealed that various individuals and organizations have come to show support and pray for Kanu’s release.
Princess Kate emphasized that her brother’s detention was not motivated by personal gain but by his desire to seek justice for the oppressed people of Biafra.
She pointed out that Kanu had predicted many of the issues currently affecting Nigeria, yet instead of heeding his warnings, the government chose to imprison him.
“Is there anything happening in Nigeria today that Nnamdi Kanu did not prophesy? All his prophesies concerning Nigeria have all come to pass but instead of listening to him, they decided to detain him.
“But even in detention he is still concerned about the hardship Nigerians are passing through irrespective of their tribe or religion. He seeks the good of all.
“He does not support the killings in the South East and wants that to stop. His anger is only again the killer herdsmen killing farmers and destroying crops in Biafra land.
“Kanu wants peace to return to Igbo land and that’s why he said that within two minutes of his release, calm will return to the land because he won’t tolerate that,” Princess Kate remarked.
She expressed her growing concern over Kanu’s health, urging President Tinubu to allow him to receive specialized medical treatment outside the DSS facility.
According Princess Kate, Kanu’s physician, who visited him at the DSS headquarters, said that he needed to be further examined outside the detention facility where there are sophisticated equipment.
