5 Things To Know About Nnamdi Kanu As He Continues His Trial Today

Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a group that agitates for the secession of Biafra from Nigeria. Kanu was recently arrested and extradited to Nigeria and is charged with an alleged act of terrorism and treasonable felony.

Here are five things to know about the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra as he continues his trial today.

#1. Nnamdi Kanu was born on 25th September 1967 in Isiama Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State. He attended Library Avenue Primary School and went to Government College Umuahia for his secondary education. He studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and moved to the UK before graduating.

#2. He began his activism for the freedom of Biafra as a Radio Biafra director and anchor of Biafra awareness under Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Radio Biafra is a station that called for an independent state for the Igbo people and broadcast to Nigeria from London.

#3. Nnamdi Kanu believes in Judaism and considers himself a Jew and oftentimes has led his Biafran people to various Jewish prayers and religious observations. Kanu appears regularly wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and head covering.

#4. Kanu Founded the Indigenous People of Biafra in 2014 and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in December 2020, a paramilitary organization that was supposed to defend southeastern Nigerians from bandits and armed Fulani herders.

#5. Prior to his recent arrest in June 2021 Kanu had been arrested in October 2015 and was detained for more than a year, despite various court orders that ruled for his release. He was charged with “criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and membership of an illegal organization”