- Not in our custody, says DHQ
With the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) still unknown, the United Kingdom has begun inquiries to unravel his whereabouts.
Kanu, also a citizen of the UK has gone missing and unaccounted for by the federal government ever since the military operation which left the group proscribed.
The UK government seeks clarification from the federal government if the British national was alive or dead. An enquiry that is yet to be ascertained immediately if the Federal Government had responded or not.
The Press Officer, UK high commission in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, stated that the inquiry followed reports that Kanu had been missing since September 14, 2017 when armed soldiers stormed his residence in Abia State.
“We are seeking urgent clarification from the Nigerian authorities about the status and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-Nigerian man, who has been reported missing since September 14,” Abuku stated in an during the week.
Asked if the UK would strip Kanu of citizenship on account of the declaration by Nigeria that he was leading a terrorist organisation, the mission said it does not comment on individual cases.
“One of the conditions that can make the United Kingdom strip its citizen of nationality is if the person engages in a terrorist activity at home or abroad. And Kanu has dual citizenship and therefore a citizen of Nigeria and the UK,” the mission stated.
When asked if the UK supported the Nigerian government’s proscription of the IPOB, Abuku stated that the group was not a proscribed organisation under the British law.
However, when asked if the group was free to raise funds or hold rallies in Britain, Abuku said he would need to get an official response on that, but subsequently declined to respond to the question.
The United States had earlier said it did not consider IPOB a terrorist group and urged Nigerians to de-escalate tension and embrace peaceful resolution of grievances.
Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied having the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, in its custody.
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The DHQ said on Friday that it has no knowledge of the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.
Defence spokesman, John Enenche, who addressed journalists in Abuja stated that DHQ cannot be held responsible for the missing IPOB leader.
He also denied that military invaded the country home of Kanu’s in Abia State. He said: “I watched the operations live. I also got firsthand information from our men on ground. For the records, Nnamdi Kanu was never taken away by the military.”
IPOB leader went underground few weeks ago after the soldiers executing the second phase of military operation code named “python dance or egwu eke” invaded his home in Umuahia, Abia State.
He is due to appear in court this October for the continuation of his trail.