The Acting Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), Ogechukwu Nkere, has made a powerful appeal to the United States Congress. He asked American lawmakers to step in and help free Biafra leaders Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa.

Nkere sent his written message to the U.S. Congress through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. This followed their hearing on June 24, 2025, which focused on how governments target people across borders, also known as “transnational repression”.

He presented his testimony as a private citizen, identifying himself as a Biafran-American who fights for political and human rights.

This marks the first time in recent U.S. history that Congress has officially received testimony about the Biafra struggle. The statement is now part of the official Congressional record and can be found on their website.

The Tom Lantos Commission is led by two U.S. Congressmen, Chris Smith and Jim McGovern. Congressman Smith has long spoken out against how Christians are treated in Nigeria. Earlier in March 2025, he led another hearing on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

In his statement, Nkere explained how the Nigerian government has repeatedly violated the rights of Biafrans. He pointed to the arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was taken from Kenya, and the ongoing legal troubles of Simon Ekpa in Finland. He said both cases are examples of Nigeria using its power unfairly, even beyond its borders.

Nkere called on the U.S. to act if Nigeria doesn’t release Kanu. He urged Congress to place visa bans on Nigerian officials, stop aid to Nigeria, and add sanctions and tariffs. He also advised similar punishment for Finland if it continues prosecuting Ekpa unfairly.

The testimony can be found on the official U.S. Congress site under the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s hearing titled “Transnational Repression: Trends and Policy Approaches”.