Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has raised an urgent alarm over the prolonged detention of a young Igbo man, Michael Onyedikachi Ahize, who was arrested in September 2022 by a combined team of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army and has remained in custody without trial for nearly four years. Ejimakor's call for Ahize's immediate release or formal arraignment has once again exposed the deep-seated concerns over the treatment of suspected IPOB members and other detainees in Nigeria's South-East, where security operatives have been accused of using allegations of IPOB membership to justify indefinite detention.
In a post on his X account on August 12, 2026, Ejimakor described the ordeal of Michael Ahize as a stark illustration of a wider pattern of injustice against young Igbo males. "For many young Igbo males, being labeled an IPOB member is literally a 'kiss of death'," Ejimakor wrote. "This photo bears young Michael Onyedikachi Ahize, who was reportedly arrested in September 2022 by a combined team of DSS and the Army, and detained since then, without being charged or brought to Court". According to Ejimakor, Ahize was initially taken to the DSS office in Owerri for questioning, then moved to Tiger Base in Owerri, and subsequently transferred to the Imo State Police Command. He was later taken back to the DSS for further questioning before being returned to the Imo State Police Command, which remains his last known location.
Ejimakor alleged that Ahize's case reflects a troubling pattern in which young Igbo men are arrested on "flimsy grounds" and quickly labeled as IPOB members to justify indefinite detention. "Oftentimes, young Igbo males are arrested on flimsy grounds or set up, and then quickly labeled IPOB to justify indefinite detention," he said. "This sometimes escalates to torture and extrajudicial killing. It just has to stop. Ndigbo must band together and vigorously fight this persistent selective injustice". The lawyer stressed that every detainee deserves his day in court, describing it as a basic human right. He called on the public to share the post widely in the hope of securing Ahize's release or at least ensuring that he is brought before a court to defend himself.
The case of Michael Ahize is not an isolated incident. It comes amid longstanding concerns raised by rights groups and lawyers over the treatment of suspected IPOB members and other detainees in the South-East. In a similar case, Ejimakor had previously called for the release of Chukwu Sunday Obasi, who has been detained by the DSS since March 2021 without trial or access to lawyers and relatives. The Indigenous People of Biafra, founded in 2012 by Nnamdi Kanu, has been campaigning for a referendum to enable the people of the Igbo race of South-East Nigeria to decide whether they want to belong to Nigeria or have their own sovereign country. The group was proscribed and designated a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government, a move that Ejimakor has consistently challenged, describing it as a political rather than a security measure.
The detention of Michael Ahize without trial for nearly four years raises serious questions about Nigeria's commitment to due process and the rule of law. Under the Nigerian Constitution, every person is entitled to a fair hearing and the right to be brought before a court within a reasonable time. The prolonged detention of individuals on mere suspicion of IPOB membership, without formal charges or judicial oversight, constitutes a grave violation of these fundamental rights. Ejimakor's demand for Ahize to be brought before a court underscores the constitutional requirement that a person deprived of liberty should have access to due process and judicial oversight.
The Nigerian government has consistently defended its security operations in the South-East, arguing that they are necessary to combat terrorism and restore peace in the region. However, human rights organisations have documented numerous cases of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, torture and extrajudicial killings by security forces in the South-East. The case of Michael Ahize, if proven, would be a damning indictment of the government's approach to security in the region, where the label of IPOB membership has become a weapon used to silence dissent and detain individuals without any legal justification.
As Ejimakor continues to advocate for Ahize's release, the lawyer has called on the public to amplify the case and support the campaign for Ahize to be formally charged or set free. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of the proscription of IPOB and the treatment of individuals suspected of belonging to the group. Ejimakor has previously called for the de‑proscription of IPOB, arguing that the group's proscription is political and targets Igbos rather than addressing security concerns. He has also pointed to Opinion No. 25/2022 by the UN Human Rights Council, which declared the detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu arbitrary and called for his unconditional release and compensation.
For Michael Onyedikachi Ahize, the past four years have been a nightmare of uncertainty, deprivation and injustice. His family and friends have been left in the dark, unable to access him or secure his release. His case serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human rights in Nigeria, where the suspicion of belonging to a proscribed group can lead to indefinite detention without trial. Ejimakor's campaign to #FreeMichaelAhize has resonated with many Nigerians who are concerned about the erosion of civil liberties in the country. As the lawyer put it, "Every detainee deserves his day in Court. It's a basic human right". The question now is whether the Nigerian government will heed this call and ensure that Michael Ahize is either charged and tried or released unconditionally. For a young man who has spent nearly four years in detention without any legal recourse, the answer cannot come soon enough.
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