An Israeli lobbyist, Heidi Moses, has accused Britain of hypocrisy over its position on international conflicts, while calling for greater global attention to the case of detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Moses, who said she represents the Biafran cause at the Israeli Knesset, made the comments during a television interview in Israel.
She linked the Biafran agitation to Britain’s colonial history in Nigeria, arguing that the British government bears historical responsibility for the political structure that brought the territory now known as Nigeria together.
Moses also alleged that millions of people in the South-East and other areas associated with the Biafran cause have suffered violence and loss of lives.
She said a Biafran delegation she brought to the Israeli parliament was received by some members of the Knesset, including Limor Son Har-Melech, Nissim Vaturi and Afif Abed.
According to her, the lawmakers subsequently sent letters to the United Nations concerning what she described as the arbitrary detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
Moses further argued that Kanu was imprisoned because of his political views and his campaign for Biafran independence.
Kanu, the leader of the proscribed IPOB, was convicted by a Federal High Court in Abuja on treason-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment.
He is currently serving his sentence in Sokoto.
Moses’ characterisation of the case contrasts with the position of the Nigerian government and the outcome of the court proceedings, which found Kanu guilty of the offences for which he was prosecuted.
The Israeli lobbyist also referred to comments attributed to United States President Donald Trump on security challenges in Nigeria, claiming that Washington had indicated a willingness to provide military assistance, although she gave no details to substantiate the claim.
She called for what she described as an end to the international silence over the Biafran question, urging the global community to pay closer attention to Kanu’s case and the wider agitation for Biafran self-determination.
