The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata, has called on the federal government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, so he can receive proper medical care.

In a video message shared with journalists on Thursday, Azuta-Mbata stressed that Kanu’s health condition requires urgent attention. He added that the government must act quickly to ensure his safety and well-being, noting that keeping him in detention offers no meaningful benefit to the country.

Kanu was first arrested in 2015 on charges of treasonable felony. After skipping bail in 2017, he fled Nigeria but was later rearrested in Kenya in 2021 through a controversial operation. Since then, he has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Azuta-Mbata urged the government to embrace a political solution, insisting that dialogue and compassion would help ease tensions. He maintained that Nigeria stands to gain more by addressing the matter through peace and understanding rather than prolonged detention.