The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), on Tuesday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on June 12 in commemoration of Nigeria’s 2025 Democracy Day.
Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He has been detained in the custody of the Department of State Services since 2021 over alleged terrorism.
MASSOB’s appeal was contained in a statement signed by MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu. Maduka said Kanu’s release would serve as a bold step toward national unity and healing.
He wrote, “MASSOB strongly appeals to President Tinubu to make a historic mark by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on this year’s June 12 Democracy Day. Such action will significantly contribute to national healing and foster better relations between the Igbo people and the Nigerian state.”
Madu said such a gesture would usher in a peaceful resolution of longstanding grievances in the Southeast.
According to him, “We believe that releasing Kanu will pave the way for meaningful dialogue. This is not just about one man; it’s about a people’s yearning for justice, recognition, and inclusion in the Nigerian project.”
He said June 12 was not just a date in history, but a powerful symbol of democracy, justice, and equity.”
The release added, “June 12 reminds Nigerians of the struggle for freedom and democratic ideals. What better way to honour that memory than to set free a man whose continued detention contradicts the very essence of democracy?”
