The Nigerian government has said Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested.
Abubakar Malami, the country’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, confirmed the arrest at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, June 29.
He added that the IPOB leader was arrested on Sunday and would be arraigned in court on charges of seeking secession from Nigeria.
The Minister said the arrest followed a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and INTERPOL.
Kanu is being taken to the Federal High Court in Abuja for the continuation of his trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and management of an unlawful society.
Kanu was on trial in Nigeria before jumping bail and fleeing to Jerusalem.
The Nigerian government had charged him with treason but Binta Nyako, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, granted him bail after 18 months in detention.
Kanu had flouted all the terms of the bail before the military invaded his Abia residence on September 14, 2017.
He fled afterwards and resurfaced in Jerusalem.
When contacted, Ifeanyi Ejiofor who is Kanu’s lawyer said, “I don’t think it is possible. It is not possible.”
“Someone just called me to inform me about this, but call me back to confirm,” he said.
HumAngle contacted police spokesperson Frank Mbah to comment on the authenticity of the development but he was not readily available to take the calls.
Prior to his arrest, Kanu had been in the United Kingdom, from where he broadcasted on Radio Biafra.
Editor’s note: This report has been updated to correct the unverified claim that Kanu was extradited.
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