The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) are calling on major international organizations like the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to push for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, who leads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been held in detention for the past four years.

AVID also appealed to the United Kingdom to intervene and protect Kanu’s rights since he is a British citizen. They accused the Nigerian government of violating his basic human rights by keeping him in detention despite several court orders calling for his release.

In a statement made public in Abuja on Tuesday, AVID asked the international press to hold Nigeria responsible for promoting ethnic violence and silencing peaceful protesters.

Reacting to the ongoing violence in places like Benue State, the group said Kanu’s continued detention encourages further bloodshed. They urged the international community not to ignore the situation.

Dr. Sylvester Onyia, AVID President, signed the statement titled ‘A Genocide in Slow Motion: Nigeria’s continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu enables widespread atrocities’.

AVID said it wants the attention of the global community and human rights groups to focus on the violence in Benue and other native areas in Nigeria. They believe these killings are part of a long-term plan to wipe out certain ethnic groups, which worsened after Kanu’s arrest.

They pointed out that Kanu, who was taken from Kenya in 2021 and brought to Nigeria, was abducted illegally, and his arrest violated international law.

According to AVID, keeping Kanu in custody despite court rulings is not just a legal issue but part of a strategy to silence those speaking against violent attacks on native communities.

They noted that the recent killings in Benue highlight what happens when voices like Kanu’s are silenced. The group stressed that Kanu had warned about planned attacks disguised as herdsmen violence.

AVID said instead of listening to his warnings, Kanu was labeled a terrorist while real attackers were allowed to operate freely. They questioned why someone who promotes peaceful self-determination is in prison, while violent groups are not stopped.

They concluded by saying that Kanu’s detention sends the wrong signal and encourages more killings. They pleaded with the world not to remain silent about the injustice.