The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has written a passionate letter to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump ahead of his critical court hearing scheduled for tomorrow. The hearing is expected to determine whether Kanu will present his defense or forfeit the right to do so, a development many consider pivotal in his prolonged detention and legal battle.
In the letter, dated November 6, and delivered through the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Kanu appeals to Trump to intervene diplomatically in what he describes as a humanitarian and constitutional crisis affecting Christians and the Igbo population in Nigeria. Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) following his controversial rendition from Kenya in 2021, maintains his innocence and insists that his struggle is rooted in peaceful self-determination.
Kanu referenced the October 13, 2022 judgment of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, which discharged and acquitted him of all charges while declaring his rendition unlawful an order he says the Nigerian government has refused to obey. He argues that continued detention violates both Nigerian and international law.
The IPOB leader highlighted alleged systematic attacks on Judeo-Christian communities in Eastern Nigeria, calling the situation an existential threat. He urged Trump to initiate a U.S.-led independent inquiry into the reported violence and to press for international discussions on the rights of the Igbo people to self-determination, describing this as the only sustainable path to peace.
ALSO READ: Kano Assembly Moves to Make Hausa a Compulsory Medium of Instruction in Schools
Kanu reaffirmed his commitment to truth, justice, and non-violence, emphasizing that IPOB rejects all forms of armed conflict. He warned that history would judge world leaders based on how they respond when “genocide knocks,” stating that even a single action, statement, or diplomatic intervention could help prevent largescale tragedy.
As he prepares for his court appearance tomorrow, supporters believe his message to Trump signals a strategic move to increase international pressure and visibility, especially as debates around human rights and regional stability in Nigeria continue to intensify.