Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed it is a mistake for the Nigerian government to keep the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in prison.
In a recent interview with Noble Nigeria, Soyinka stated that Kanu had the right to pursue his cause for a separate nation of Biafra as “he was never accused of physically bombing any place or killing anyone”.
Kanu was extraordinarily extradited to Nigeria from Nairobi in June 2021 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari with the help of the Kenyan government.
Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was extradited to Nigeria in June 2021 and is facing charges related to broadcasts alleged to have been made to further terrorism.
Meanwhile, Soyinka labelled the action of the Nigerian government as “kidnapping”.
He said: “It is a mistake keeping Nnamdi Kanu in prison, I believe. In fact, they kidnapped him.
“His language was inciteful, yes, no question about that. But you don’t arrest, you don’t kidnap people. Buhari had an obsession with kidnapping people.
“That seemed to be his trademark. It is like he couldn’t fulfil himself unless he’s put somebody in a crate and brought them back.
“I think that politically speaking, if they have any real charges against him, well, since he is in their hands, they should try him. All these technical postponements, delays, and avoiding the basic issues, for me is counterproductive.”