The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has raised strong objections over his alleged secret transfer from the custody of the Department of State Services in Abuja to a correctional facility in Sokoto State.
Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, disclosed this on Friday that the family became aware of the development after members of his legal team visited the DSS headquarters in Abuja and were informed he had been moved out of the city.
This comes barely 24 hours after the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Kanu on all counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Justice James Omotosho had ordered that the separatist leader should not remain in Abuja.
But Emmanuel said the sudden transfer has heightened fears over Kanu’s fragile health, alleging that the move was designed to cut him off from the specialised medical attention he has been receiving from private physicians.
“They have secretly relocated Nnamdi Kanu to Sokoto prison with the intention to kill him by denying him access to his personal physicians,” he claimed.
According to him, Kanu is on a strict medication plan managed by private doctors, following what he described as a deterioration in his health while in custody. He insisted that taking him away from Abuja could “tamper with the delicate medical arrangements” put in place.
“Kanu is on special medication. Now they want to return to the old pattern of administering drugs to him. This is a plan to finally kill him and we are opposed to it,” he said.
The family maintained that Kanu has committed no offence to warrant what they termed “systematic torture,” warning that any harm to him would have far-reaching consequences.
“Nigeria should not kill Nnamdi Kanu for seeking justice for his people. He committed no crime to warrant this torture,” Emmanuel said.
He called on the United Nations, African Union, United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union to urgently intervene and hold the Federal Government accountable for Kanu’s safety.
He also placed direct responsibility on President Bola Tinubu, saying the family would not accept any explanation if anything happens to the IPOB leader in custody.
“The international community should hold President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government responsible should anything happen to him,” he added.
The family demanded an immediate clarification from the authorities and asked that Kanu be returned to Abuja where his lawyers, doctors, and relatives can access him without restriction.
