The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reportedly suspended the Office of its Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and the position of Director of Radio Biafra.
The group announced the decision after a full-house meeting of its Directorate on Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Head of the Directorate of State of IPOB, Mazi Chikadibia Edoziem.
According to the statement, the Directorate of State will henceforth administer the affairs of the organisation and oversee the movement.
The group said IPOB was “formed and nurtured by a group of Biafrans in the Diaspora (not by any singular individual).”
It added that no individual had the authority to dissolve the Directorate of State, which it described as the apex leadership structure of the group.
IPOB said the decision followed a review of intelligence reports concerning communications from Kanu in Sokoto prison.
It said it was “mindful that certain unguarded communications from Sokoto prison to those in Biafraland has caused unnecessary arrests and death of IPOB family members in Biafraland.”
The leadership also claimed that Kanu’s visitors and activities were being monitored by the Department of State Services.
IPOB Warns Against Violence
The group expressed concern over alleged plans by some individuals to form a new militia, warning that such a move could trigger fresh violence in the region.
It said the suspension was to “prevent unchecked actions, reckless assumption of authority and unguarded utterances from resulting in the reckless arrests, torture and needless death of Biafran youths.”
IPOB added that any criminal activity carried out in the name of the suspended office would no longer be blamed on the group.
“IPOB shall hence forward not be held accountable for actions of individuals or groups of Individuals not holding any active position within IPOB,” the statement added.
Kanu Reportedly Appoints New DOS Head
The development followed reports that Kanu had dissolved the third administration of the Directorate of State.
He was also said to have inaugurated a fourth administration and appointed United States-based Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ as the new Head of the Directorate of State.
In a statement attributed to IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, Nwaọgụ was reportedly directed to assume responsibility for the administration, coordination and day-to-day management of IPOB affairs under Kanu’s authority.
The Directorate of State was established in 2012 as the administrative arm of IPOB. It had previously been led by Dr Justin Akujieze in the United States, Mazi Uchenna Asiegbu in Spain, and Chika Edoziem in Switzerland, who was appointed in March 2017 during Kanu’s earlier detention at Kuje Prison.
