Ben Kalu: Criminals won’t use Nnamdi Kanu as excuse for violence if he’s released

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider a political solution in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 

Kalu made the appeal during the inaugural meeting of the committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) at the national assembly on Wednesday.

The deputy speaker said releasing Kanu would reduce insecurity in the south-east, adding that criminals currently use his continued detention as an excuse to perpetrate violence in the region.

“You can’t have development in the midst of insecurity. That is why we started what we call peace in south-east project supported by the parliament,” Kalu said.

“But in doing so we noticed that the insecurity there will be reduced if Nnamdi Kanu is released. We want Nnamdi Kanu to be released because we know it will give our people more security.

“Those who are using him as excuse to perpetrate all these criminal actions around our area will have no other reason to be on the street.

“Then the police and security agencies will catch anyone who claims Nnamdi Kanu is the reason for causing harm to the people of the south-east. So, we are begging — you can’t coarse the president. He is the commander-in-chief.

“All we are saying is: use the political approach not the legal approach. We are appealing to him (Tinubu) to temper justice with mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu to the south-east people.

“It will ensure more security for our people and spring up development that this SEDC is going to bring.”

DEMANDS FOR KANU’S RELEASE

Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was extradited from Kenya in June 2021.

Since his arrest, the south-east has seen a spike in the activities of gunmen, including the violent enforcement of sit-at-home on Mondays to demand the release of the IPOB leader.

There have been increasing calls for Kanu’s release, particularly from stakeholders in the south-east.

Earlier this week, the house committee on SEDC called for Kanu’s release. In June 2024, 50 members of the house of representatives asked Tinubu to order Kanu’s release.

In the same month, the minority caucus in the green chamber demanded Kanu’s release.

On July 2, governors under the umbrella of the South-East Governors’ Forum resolved to meet with Tinubu to seek the release of the separatist leader.

On July 3, senators from the geopolitical zone met with Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, over the release of the IPOB leader.