The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and removed him from his position as Director of Radio Biafra in what the group described as a move to strengthen and reposition its operations.
The decision was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by Chikadibia Edoziem, head of IPOB’s Directorate of State (DOS), the organisation’s highest decision-making body.
IPOB Explains Suspension Decision
According to the statement, the suspension was approved during a DOS meeting held on June 17 after members reviewed an intelligence report allegedly compiled by IPOB’s M-Branch.
The report reportedly focused on a meeting involving Kanu and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) while in detention.
IPOB said the move was necessary to protect the organisation’s structure and prevent actions it believes could endanger members or undermine its objectives.
Group Cites Security Concerns
Edoziem claimed that Kanu’s communications and activities while in custody were under constant monitoring by security agencies and alleged that information from prison communications had previously led to arrests and deaths of IPOB members.
The group also alleged that there were plans to create a new militia that could trigger fresh violence in the South-East and weaken the organisation’s leadership structure.
According to IPOB, suspending the office of the leader would help prevent individuals from claiming authority to carry out activities that conflict with the movement’s objectives.
Radio Biafra Role Removed
As part of the decision, Kanu was also removed from his role as Director of Radio Biafra.
IPOB maintained that the organisation was founded as a self-determination movement by Biafrans in the diaspora and insisted that no individual possesses the authority to dissolve its central leadership structure.
The group added that any criminal activity carried out in the name of the suspended office of the leader would no longer be attributed to IPOB.
Organisation Distances Itself From Unauthorized Actions
The statement further noted that IPOB would not accept responsibility for actions carried out by individuals or groups who are not officially authorised by its Directorate of State.
The organisation said the suspension would remain in place indefinitely as part of efforts to maintain internal discipline and prevent further security risks.