REMINISCE: June 19, 2023 Marks Two Years Of Nnamdi Kanu's Kidnap And Continued Illegal Detention

  REMINISCE: June 19, 2023 Marks Two Years Of Nnamdi Kanu's Kidnap And Continued Illegal Detention

On this date of two years ago, we should recall how every living thing in Nigeria and the diaspora woke up to watch the breaking news of the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB), from Kenya to Nigeria. The shock everyone who believes in justice received from that news can best be described as, electrifying.

Many individuals were disillusioned, weakened and despaired. Women and men cried like they lost a loved one, the atmosphere was in sober, it appeared like the winds ceased to blow, like the earth went still, emotions rose high, all ears were eager to hear what happened, how it happened and why it should happen to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Watching newscasters read the story as headlines, gave many goosebumps as they wished and hoped that at the end it were going to be false. 

As the day went by, the news kept filtering in. The Internet kept buzzing with the news of his extraordinary rendition. To many doubting ears, the more the news kept coming, the more it seems to be true. It was difficult for many to behold the news that the leader of IPOB has been kidnapped, tortured for 8 days in Kenya and brought to Nigeria in chains like a common thief, perhaps whom a mob must have ruthlessly beaten to die helplessly.

Till today, the picture of Onyendu in his Fendi outfit with handcuffs leaning on the wall of the court still sends empathic ripples down the nerves of IPOB Worldwide Family members. It went viral to all corners of the world.

Different stories were cooked, told and spread from all quarters. Social media went agog with the breaking news. Everywhere was tensed. People were asking so many questions like, how manage? Others were trying to recover from the shock, some were busy spreading various calumnious versions to his kidnap. Some versions held that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu went to visit a woman in one African country and they kidnapped him there. So many unprintable things were said and attributed to the kidnap and extraordinary rendition of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Saboteurs and One Nigeria loyalists began to express their utmost excitement following the news. Many celebrated the development and applauded Malami, Buhari led government of achieving the greatest feat so far. To them, capturing Onyendu would destroy IPOB, end Biafra restoration and promote their political ambitions in Nigeria. However, little could they realize that by doing what they did, they had shot themselves on their toes. Little could they envisage that Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB set a trap for them and they eventually got trapped. They thought that kidnapping Onyendu and bringing him to Nigeria to face trial would fasten his conviction and possible jail. They never calculated that by extraordinarily renditioning him to Nigeria, they just catapulted the Biafra Restoration struggle to a new and higher dimension before the international community. All that enveloped them was the rage to capture Onyendu, silence him and make him give up on the Biafra cause.

Regrettable to the planners of this evil, it has now completed two years of woeful failure, as Nnamdi Kanu's maintains his unbreakable resolve. The reverse has remained the case for Nigeria government and their international co-conspirators in finding potent mechanisms to break the resolve, determination and will of Kanu on Biafra restoration while in custody of the Department of State Service(DSS). This has been why even after Onyendu won them in their own kangaroo courts, they conspired not to release him. Yet, mistakenly again thinking and waiting for Kanu to give up. 

They have been recruiting agents, thugs, fifth columnists, saboteurs, infiltrators and all that could be recruited to infiltrate, blackmail, attack and destroy the leadership of IPOB worldwide. Again, even with their recent hatchet job of ear surgery on the IPOB leader, they were bursted, frustrated and defeated by the ever vigilant IPOB Directorate of State(DOS). The world could only watch in total astonishment how the leadership of IPOB becomes impenetrable, insurmountably strong after every attack on her. 

Therefore, it is necessary that Biafrans thoroughly ponder over every of the events of these past two years of Kanu's unwavering grip and non-capitulating on the idea of Biafra restoration, inspite of being in DSS solitary confinement. The role of every Biafran regarding this restoration struggle, should be to remain focused and undistracted to the struggle until beyond when the IPOB leader is freed, and Biafra restored.

These and many more are what all Biafrans are being reminded of today. We must never relent on the calls, campaigns and sensitizing the world on the plights of the IPOB leader, and demanding for his unconditional release. .

written by Kelechi Chukwuezi Augustine

Edited by Ogah C S Maduabuchi

For Family Writers Press International