A Lagos State chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has dismissed Nollywood actress Rita Edochie’s appeal for the release of detained separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, leader of the proscribe Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in custody since 2021 after his controversial extradition from Kenya. He is currently facing terrorism-related charges brought by the Federal Government.
In an Instagram post, Edochie argued that Kanu’s freedom would pave the way for peace in the South-East, stressing that he is “too unique to be in captivity.” She further claimed that many of his warnings about Nigeria’s state of affairs had come true.
However, Igbokwe, reacting via Facebook on Tuesday, strongly disagreed. He said Edochie’s stance ignored the devastating impact of IPOB activities in the region.
“I just read Mrs. Rita Edochie’s plea for Nnamdi Kanu freedom and I feel like vomiting. Maybe she did not know what happened in the South-East from 2015 to 2025. This is unbelievable,” Igbokwe wrote.
Since its creation in 2020, IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) has splintered into armed groups accused of killings, kidnappings, illegal sit-at-home enforcements, and criminal rackets across the South-East.
The controversy also comes in the wake of the conviction of Simon Ekpa Kanu’s self-proclaimed successor by a Finnish court, sentencing him to six years for terrorism-related offenses, tax fraud, and incitement of violence in Nigeria. Though Ekpa plans to appeal, the case underscores growing international attention on separatist funding and activities.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army recently confirmed the arrest of a notorious ESN commander, Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, also known as Gentle de Yahoo, in Imo State. Troops recovered weapons, ammunition, stolen vehicles, military uniforms, and destroyed motorcycles linked to ESN operations, describing the breakthrough as a significant setback to the group’s violent network.
So, Igbokwe’s rejection of calls for Kanu’s release could be tied to the destruction IPOB brought to the South-East. Although many Igbo people have also denounced Kanu and his brand of separatism, describing IPOB’s terrorism as a calamity imposed on their land.
