Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has reacted to the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu saying that it is not enough for the Federal Government to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) while leaders of other notorious groups are roaming freely.
Kanu was rearrested, brought back to Nigeria, and re-arraigned for trial on Tuesday, June 29.
Governor Wike, who spoke on Thursday, on a Channels Television programme, said that for justice to be said to have prevailed, the Federal Government must ensure that the leaders of other groups that have been linked to killings and unrest must be arrested and made to face the law.
Wike said:
I have said as governor of Rivers State, I do not believe in Kanu’s principles or the way he wants to actualize Biafra. I have said that Rivers State is not part of Biafra.
However, having arrested him, the due process of the law must follow. You cannot just say that because you have arrested him therefore you will not allow justice to prevail. You must follow the due process of law.
And again, do not do it as if all our target is against a certain section of the country because it is not only Nnamdi Kanu we are talking about as regards insecurity in the country. We have bandits, we have Miyetti Allah who have caused a lot of problems, so government must endeavour to go after the heads of these organizations and associations and arrest them and bring them to book.
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The Rivers governor noted that if the government followed his advice, it will be evident that justice has been done.
According to Wike, failure to see that the other arrests are made will only mean that the move is targeted at just one section of the country; a situation which Wike says will breed issues over injustice and debates regarding marginalization.
Kanu was earlier in October 2015 arrested by Nigerian authorities on an 11-count charge bordering on “terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.”
He was granted bail in April 2017 for medical reasons.
The IPOB leader, however, fled the country in September 2017 after an invasion of his home by the military in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State.
Subsequently, he was intercepted on June 27, 2021, and was brought back to stand trial in Nigeria two days later.
