Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
Former Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has strongly criticised renewed calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing such demands as insensitive to the suffering caused by the group’s actions.
Ahmad, who served as a Special Assistant on Digital Communications under former President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed his disapproval in a series of social media posts on Thursday, asserting that Kanu’s agitation and the violent campaigns linked to IPOB had “torn families apart, destabilised communities, and left deep scars on the nation.”
He accused those advocating Kanu’s freedom of ignoring the pain of victims affected by the unrest attributed to IPOB members, particularly in the South-East region, where attacks on security personnel, public institutions, and civilians have occurred in recent years.
“Those clamouring for Nnamdi Kanu’s release should remember the lives that were lost and the families that were destroyed as a result of his rhetoric and the activities of his followers,” Ahmad said, adding that “it would be unjust to the victims to overlook the devastating impact of those actions.”
The former aide further maintained that national healing cannot be achieved through what he described as “selective sympathy or political pressure.” Instead, he called for accountability and justice to prevail, stressing that Nigeria must learn from its painful experiences with separatist violence.
Ahmad’s remarks come amid growing appeals from political, traditional, and religious leaders urging the Federal Government to release the IPOB leader, who has been in detention since June 2021, following his arrest and extradition from Kenya. Supporters of Kanu argue that his continued detention fuels tensions in the region and undermines peace efforts.
However, Ahmad insisted that the government should not yield to emotional appeals at the expense of national security and justice. “We must separate activism from accountability. Freedom should never be granted to those whose actions endangered the lives and peace of others,” he wrote.
Observers note that Ahmad’s comments reflect a broader divide in public opinion over Kanu’s case — with some Nigerians advocating reconciliation and dialogue, while others demand prosecution for alleged offences including treasonable felony and incitement of violence.
Meanwhile, rights groups and legal experts continue to call for due process in handling the matter, urging the judiciary to balance national security concerns with constitutional rights.
As of now, the Federal Government has not issued an official response to Ahmad’s remarks, but his statement has reignited public debate on whether Kanu’s release could promote peace or reopen old wounds in the South-East.
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