A coalition of U.S.-based human rights and self-determination groups has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s comparison of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Boko Haram, describing the remarks as prejudicial and capable of undermining justice.
In a joint statement signed by Ambassador Sylvester Onye, the coalition — comprising Advocates for Victims of Injustice and Discrimination (AVID), Rising Sun, and Ambassadors for Self-Determination — warned that the president’s comments were “sub judice” and an attempt to “poison the atmosphere of justice, intimidate the judiciary, and prejudice ongoing proceedings.”
The groups stressed that IPOB remains a “non-violent self-determination movement” and urged Tinubu to focus instead on insecurity driven by terrorists and armed bandits. They accused successive governments of persecuting IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, warning that such actions have only amplified his influence.
“Every additional day of his detention magnifies his stature and makes him even more beloved by millions at home and abroad,” the coalition stated, likening Kanu’s resilience to historic struggles of the Igbo people.
The groups called on the U.S. Congress and the State Department to press for Kanu’s release and demand accountability from Nigerian leaders.
“President Tinubu has only succeeded in proving one thing: the more he persecutes IPOB and detains Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the stronger and more popular both become,” the statement concluded.
Kanu’s legal team continues to push for his release, citing previous court rulings, while the Nigerian government maintains IPOB’s proscription.